Illegal possession of firearms sends Converse man to federal prison

SHREVEPORT, La. -- Joseph Chad Castillo, 36, of Converse, was sentenced Wednesday to federal prison for being a felon in possession of firearms. U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter sentenced Castillo to two years and five months, followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to information introduced in court, a Sabine Parish sheriff's deputy tried to arrest Castillo on Dec. 26, 2022 at his home in Converse. But while he was there, someone drove up the driveway, stopped, and a passenger, later identified as Castillo, got out and ran into the woods.  There was a brief pursuit before he was arrested. Deputies searched the car and found a shotgun, rifle and Castillo's cell phone in the back seat. The rifle, which had an obliterated serial number, was stolen from a private residence by Castillo. Castillo has two prior felony convictions, one for attempted possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in 2018 in Sabine Parish and another for possession of Schedule II CDS in DeSoto Parish in 2017. He knew of his felony convictions and that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Castillo pleaded guilty to the federal charge on Aug. 16. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office. It prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg.