United States District Judge Jerry Edwards, Jr., sentenced three defendants on federal firearms and ammunition charges.
Judge Edwards sentenced Robert Taylor, of Alexandria, to 63 months in federal prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, followed by two years of supervised release. Taylor previously pled guilty to the charge in July 2026.
Judge Edwards also sentenced Kevin Guthrie, Jr., of Alexandria, to 46 months in federal prison for Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, followed by two years of supervised release. Guthrie also pled guilty to the charge in July 2026.
Finally, Judge Edwards sentenced Qwadarius Guthrie, of Alexandria, to 46 months in federal prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, followed by two years of supervised release. He pled guilty in June 2026.
According to court documents, Alexandria Police Department officers responded to a November 2025 shooting in which the victim and a witness identified Taylor as the individual who fired a black semiautomatic pistol. The next day, officers located Taylor walking on a local street and arrested him.
During the arrest, officers recovered a Taurus G3 9mm pistol from his pocket. Taylor admitted possessing the firearm. Taylor had prior felony convictions for burglary and battery and acknowledged he was aware it was illegal for him to possess a firearm.
Per court documents, during a mandatory home visit on October 14, 2025, Louisiana Probation and Parole officers, assisted by APD, searched Guthrie’s residence. Inside his bedroom, officers found a drum magazine loaded with sixty rounds of 5.56 ammunition, two Glock .40-caliber magazines loaded with twelve rounds each, and seventeen rounds of 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition. Guthrie was on probation for a prior felony conviction and was prohibited from possessing ammunition.
On October 14, 2025, an APD officer encountered Guthrie seated alone in a vehicle parked near a business. Items associated with illegal drug use were visible inside the vehicle. Guthrie consented to searches of his person and vehicle, at which time officers located a Smith & Wesson pistol and marijuana in the trunk.
Guthrie admitted the firearm and narcotics were his. Guthrie had previous felony convictions, including aggravated second-degree battery and possession of Schedule I controlled substances, and acknowledged he was aware of his status as a convicted felon.