Memphis, TN – On Thursday, November 30, 2023, a federal judge sentenced a Memphis man to five years in federal prison for firearms charges as well as his role in a railroad car burglary. Lawrence Anthony, 35, was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison for aiding and abetting a railroad car burglary, possessing a machine gun, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. also ordered Anthony to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on March 4, 2022, agents with CSX Transportation observed several people breaking into railroad cars containing retail merchandise destined for California. Agents apprehended one of the suspects, Anthony, who was also found to be in possession of a Glock .40 caliber pistol. The firearm had been modified with a small switch mechanism on the rear of the slide, allowing the weapon to fire fully automatically. The other suspects fled the scene after stealing merchandise worth more than $7,500 from the railroad cars.
On August 18, 2022, Memphis Police Department officers responded to a complaint that liquor was being sold from a local residence. Upon entering the home, the officers found Anthony and discovered several boxes of liquor that had been taken during a business burglary a few hours before. Officers searched the residence and found a Taurus 9mm pistol, which Anthony admitted belonged to him. Anthony was arrested by the Memphis Police Department.
Anthony pled guilty to a four-count indictment on July 20, which charged him with aiding and abetting burglary along with firearms offenses stemming from his March and August arrests. Anthony is a convicted felon with a criminal history of committing robbery, theft, and burglary.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with valuable assistance from the Memphis Police Department and CSX Transportation. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Regina Thompson, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.