A Georgetown, La., man was sentenced last week to over two years in federal prison for removing Native American artifacts from the Kisatchie National Forest.
The U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana announced that Roy Everett Jordan, Jr., 57, has been sentenced for the unauthorized removal of archaeological resources and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U. S. District Judge Dee D. Drell sentenced Jordan to 24 months in prison for the archeological crime, and another six months in prison for the firearm possession, for a total of 30 months in prison. After release from prison, Jordan will be on supervised release for two years.
Jordan was convicted by a federal jury in March and recently sentenced. Evidence at the trial revealed in 2022 U. S. Forest Service agents learned of unauthorized digging at four Native American archaeological sites in the Kisatchie National Forest in the Grant Parish. The digging had occurred at sites where arrowheads and other artifact were known to be present. Through their investigation, agents obtained photo evidence of Jordan in the area where the digging took place. Just a few hours after photo evidence was taken of Jordan conducting unauthorized digging, he made a social media post on a find he had made that day in that location and the piece of pottery he found.
A search warrant was executed at Jordan’s residence and agents found numerous arrowheads and pottery shards. A table covered in a camouflage cloth was found that matched the photo Jordan had posted on social media. In addition, there was an outbuilding/shed on the property that was full of Jordan’s belongings and numerous arrowheads and pottery shards in multiple places. Agents found clothing in the shed matching what Jordan had worn in the photo evidence obtained by law enforcement agents.
Agents also found and seized a loaded ISSC semi-automatic .22 caliber pistol. Jordan has three prior felony convictions prohibiting him from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
The case was investigated by the U. S. Forest Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by the U. S. Attorney’s Office.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
