Federal Jury Convicts Georgetown Man of Unauthorized Archaeological Digging of Arrowheads and Illegal Possession of a Firearm

ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a federal jury in Alexandria has returned a guilty verdict against Roy Everett Jordan, Jr., 57, of Georgetown, Louisiana, for the unauthorized removal of archaeological resources and illegal possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Dee D. Drell presided over the trial. It took just 30 minutes for the jury to find Jordan guilty of the crimes. 

According to information presented in court, in 2022, U.S. Forest Service agents learned that there had been unauthorized digging at four Native American archaeological sites in the Kisatchie National Forest in the Grant Parish, Louisiana. The digging had been done in places where arrowheads and other human-altered stones were known to be present. Through their investigation, agents obtained photo evidence of Jordan being in the area where the digging was taking place. Just a few hours after photo evidence was taken of him conducting unauthorized digging, Jordan made a post on social media about a find that he had made that day in that location and the piece of pottery he found. 

A search warrant was obtained for Jordan’s residence and upon execution of that warrant, agents found numerous arrowheads and pottery shards. A table covered in a camouflage cloth was found which 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 that matched what Jordan had worn in the photo evidence that was obtained by law enforcement agents. In addition, agents 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. 

Testimony by an archaeologist at trial established that the value of the restoration and repair of the disturbed archaeological sites at the Kisatchie National Forest will be greater than $500.

Jordan faces a sentence of not more than 2 years in prison, a $20,000 fine, or both, on the conviction for removal of archaeological resources, as well as restitution for the damage caused at the archeological sites. He also faces a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000, for the firearms conviction.  

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 Assistant United States Attorneys William C. Gaskins and Mike Shannon.

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