A Port Arthur resident has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs in the Eastern District of Texas.
Kemien Sharod Taylor, aged 51, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. On December 19, 2024, U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone sentenced him to 57 months in federal prison.
Court records show that in November 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence on 12th Street in Port Arthur where Taylor had sold crack cocaine. During the search, Taylor directed officers to a firearm hidden in a bedroom closet, which had been reported stolen in Houston. Detectives also found crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia such as Pyrex mixing bowls with cocaine residue and digital scales with cocaine residue. Further investigations confirmed that Taylor is a convicted felon prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program—a joint initiative involving federal, state, and local agencies focused on reducing violent crime. PSN is an evidence-based program that unites stakeholders to address pressing violent crime issues and develop comprehensive solutions. The program prioritizes enforcement efforts against the most violent offenders while collaborating with prevention and reentry programs for long-term crime reduction.
The investigation was conducted by the Port Arthur Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Quinn prosecuted the case.