A Missouri man, Dennis Latour, has been sentenced to seven years in prison. U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey announced the sentencing on Friday for Latour, who was found guilty of $822,000 fraud and gun-related crimes.
Latour, aged 41, orchestrated a scheme in June 2022 to deceive individuals interested in investing in the cannabis industry. He falsely portrayed himself as a successful investor and encouraged them to join his investment. The fraudulent activities resulted in one victim losing approximately $713,000 and another losing $109,000. Latour is required to repay the stolen money.
Additionally, Latour, a convicted felon, was involved in the procurement and possession of firearms with his former partner, Jennifer Keegan. They began purchasing firearms in February 2023, with Keegan handling the necessary paperwork, aware that the guns would be under Latour’s possession. These purchases included various firearms found during a search by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) at their residence in Des Peres, Missouri, on Sept. 26, 2023.
Latour pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, conspiracy to purchase firearms for a felon, and 13 counts of wire fraud. Keegan, aged 51, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to three years of probation on April 16.
The ATF conducted the investigation, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Szczucinski and Justin Ladendorf. This case falls under the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which aims to reduce violent crime through collaboration among different levels of law enforcement and community organizations. The program places emphasis on community trust, violence prevention, strategic law enforcement, and evaluating outcomes.