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On Friday, U. S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the indictments of Javorious Scott, a.k.a. rap artist “JayDaYoungan,” 23, of Bogalusa, and Carlos Walker, 31, of Bogalusa, on charges related to violation of the Federal Gun Control Act.

Scott was charged in a one-count indictment with possession of a firearm while under indictment for a felony.

According to court documents, on Oct. 29, officers with the Bogalusa Police Department executed a traffic stop on a silver-colored Audi bearing a Virginia license plate traveling south on South Columbia Street in Bogalusa, because the vehicle possessed a switched license plate.

Scott, the driver of the vehicle, reportedly failed to provide his license or vehicle registration. While speaking to Scott and the passenger, officers reportedly smelled a strong odor of marijuana in the vehicle. The officers also reportedly observed a black handgun on the driver’s side floorboard directly beneath Scott’s legs.

According to court documents, officers removed Scott from the vehicle and observed a small amount of suspected marijuana in the driver’s seat. Officers then reportedly recovered a loaded Ruger Model Security-9, 9mm, pistol from the driver’s side floorboard.

At the time that the officers located and seized the firearm from the floorboard, Scott was under indictment for felony crimes, possession of a controlled substance and assault, in Harris County, Texas.

Scott faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

Walker was charged in a one-count indictment with possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a felony.

According to court documents, on Sept. 24, Walker, knowing he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, did knowingly possess a Taurus Model G2C 9mm pistol.

Walker faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

Evans reiterated that the indictment in each case is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the BPD. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney André Jones.

These cases are being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the U.S. Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.

PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and re-entry programs for lasting reductions in crime.