Eunice man arrested in connection with burglaries at Frank Best Marine in Eunice

Eunice man arrested in connection with burglaries at Frank Best Marine in Eunice

A 40-year-old Eunice man, Joshua Paul Billedeau, found with a pistol stolen in a burglary at Frank Best Marine in Eunice has been charged with possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon, according to a news release from St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz.
The arrest is linked to a St. Landry Crime Stoppers segment.
Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux, who serves as the spokesman for Crime Stoppers, said, “Almost right after the segment aired tips started coming in.”
Crime Stoppers then forwarded the tips to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office for investigation.
The tip that broke the case involved the Jan. 21 burglary in which 13 handguns were stolen, Thibodeaux said.
The tips led to Billedeau of the 200 block of West Ardoin Street, Eunice, he said.
“ATF agents along with St. Landry detectives located Billedeau and began questioning him. Billedeau was advised of his Miranda rights and agreed to answer questions. During the interrogation, he admitted to being in possession of a handgun and that he purchased the weapon from Madison Boone. Boone is known by the ATF and detectives with both Eunice Police Department and the sheriff’s office for burglaries. Last week Boone was charged for multiple burglaries in the Eunice area and is currently incarcerated in the parish jail,” the news release from Guidroz stated.
Billedeau was arrested and his bail was set at $40,000.