Jefferson County Felon Sentenced for Federal Firearms Violation

BEAUMONT – A Beaumont man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.

Edward Lee Simien, 43, pleaded guilty on Sep. 9, 2022, to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.

According to information presented in court, on April 24, 2022, local law enforcement officers were serving an arrest warrant on Simien, when they observed Simien enter a vehicle near the rear of his business.  Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Simien, however he fled from officers at a high rate of speed.  Eventually Simien ran into the fence of a local business, disabling his vehicle.  Simien then exited the vehicle with what officers observed was a firearm with an extended magazine in his hand.  Simien fled on foot and threw the firearm nearby.  Officers eventually took Simien into custody and recovered the firearm he discarded.  Further investigation revealed Simien was a previously convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.  Simien was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 11, 2022.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the 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 reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.

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Davilyn Walston

Public Affairs Officer/Law Enforcement Coordinator

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Eastern District of Texas