Covington Man Indicted for Felon in Possession of Firearms, Silencers, and Machineguns

NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JOE LYNN BEATTIE ("BEATTIE"), age 52, of Covington, Louisiana, was charged on September 20, 2024 in a three (3) count indictment. Count One charged him with being a Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). Count Two charged him with possession of silencers not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 5841, and Count Three charged him with possession of machineguns, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(o).

If convicted, BEATTIE faces up to fifteen (15) years imprisonment for Count One, and up to ten (10) years of imprisonment for Counts Two and Three. He also faces up to three (3) years of supervised release following imprisonment and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee as to all counts. As to Counts One and Three, he faces a fine of up to $250,000 and, as to Count Two, he faces a fine of up to a $100,000.

United States Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.