Louisiana man sentenced to 30 months for illegal digging at native american sites and firearm possession

Louisiana man sentenced to 30 months for illegal digging at Native American sites and firearm possession

ALEXANDRIA, La. — A Georgetown man has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after being convicted of unauthorized archaeological excavation and illegal firearm possession, officials announced Thursday.

Roy Everett Jordan, Jr., 57, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to 24 months for unlawfully removing archaeological resources from protected sites and an additional six months for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Upon release, he will serve two years of supervised release.

A federal jury found Jordan guilty in March following an investigation that linked him to unauthorized digging activities in the Kisatchie National Forest in Grant Parish. U.S. Forest Service agents began investigating in 2022 after discovering damage to four Native American archaeological sites known to contain arrowheads and human-modified stones.

Photo evidence placed Jordan at one of the dig sites, and just hours later, he posted on social media about a discovery made in that same area, referencing a piece of pottery.

Authorities executed a search warrant at Jordan’s home, where they recovered numerous artifacts including arrowheads and pottery shards. A table covered with camouflage cloth matched the one shown in Jordan’s social media post. An adjacent outbuilding contained additional artifacts and clothing identical to that worn in the photo evidence.

Agents also found a loaded ISSC .22 caliber pistol. Jordan has three prior felony convictions, making it illegal for him to possess firearms.

The investigation was led by the U.S. Forest Service with assistance from the FBI, Louisiana State Police, and Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William C. Gaskins.

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