Winston Alexander Thatch, of Bayou La Batre, was sentenced today to eighty-four months imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentence was handed down by United States District Court Judge Kristi K. DuBose. Thatch previously pled guilty to violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
Documents filed with the guilty plea established that on November 24, 2021, Thatch was stopped by a Bayou La Batre police officer for running a stop sign in the City of Bayou La Batre. Officers discovered the vehicle had a switched tag. When the officer got to the driver side door, he noticed that Thatch had a rubber hose in his lap. Subsequent investigation showed that Thatch had methamphetamine in his pocket, a marijuana blunt in the ashtray of the vehicle, and a loaded High Standard, Double-Nine Convertible, .22 caliber, revolver in a bag in the vehicle, The firearm was loaded with eight (8) rounds. Officers also found an extra revolver cylinder, and 67 extra .22 caliber rounds, and other drugs in the vehicle. All told, the police recovered 2.84 grams of crack cocaine, 3.81 grams of methamphetamine, and 22.48 grams of marijuana from the vehicle.
Further investigation by the Bayou La Batre Police Department revealed that the firearm was stolen out of the City of Bayou La Batre. Thatch was convicted of prior felony offenses for Receiving Stolen Property 1st Degree, on November 18, 2019, in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama, and Assault 2nd Degree, on November 18, 2019, in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello praised the outstanding work of the City of Bayou La Batre Police Department and the ATF. Costello added that when convicted felons carry loaded weapons and drugs on the public streets it poses a great danger to the community and some dedicated and alert police work eradicated the danger in this case. Costello also praised the constant work of ATF in partnering with our local jurisdictions in further investigating these cases and presenting them for federal prosecution.
This case was investigated by the City of Bayou La Batre Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.