A Missouri man will spend the next seven years in federal prison for orchestrating an $822,000 cannabis investment scam and illegally amassing an arsenal of firearms, despite being a convicted felon. Dennis Latour, 41, promised two victims massive returns in the cannabis industry—claims that turned out to be pure fiction.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, Latour convinced one victim to invest $713,000 and another $109,000 in a fake business opportunity beginning in June 2022. Instead of investing, he used the funds to bankroll a lavish lifestyle, purchasing high-end vehicles, jet skis, and weapons.
Latour’s crimes extended beyond financial fraud. As a convicted felon, he was barred from owning firearms. Yet, with help from his then-partner Jennifer Keegan—who knowingly falsified purchase records—Latour stocked a private “vault” with 27 firearms, including a Barrett .50-caliber rifle. The collection was uncovered in a September 2023 raid by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Keegan, 51, was sentenced earlier this month to three years of probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy to buy firearms for a felon.
Latour pleaded guilty to 13 counts of wire fraud, one count of felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of conspiracy to purchase firearms for a felon. Alongside his prison term, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey ordered Latour to repay the stolen funds.
The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods, a national initiative aimed at reducing gun violence. While the program supports community-driven crime prevention, Latour’s prosecution underscores the consequences for those who exploit others and violate federal firearms laws.
