KENNER, LA – Alton Grayson, 37, is facing a lengthy federal prison sentence after admitting to trafficking methamphetamine and illegally possessing a firearm, according to court documents unsealed today. Grayson pleaded guilty on April 18, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, bringing an end to a case that began with a routine traffic stop.
The bust unfolded in January 2023 when a Kenner Police Department officer pulled Grayson over for unspecified traffic violations. A search of Grayson’s vehicle revealed large bags filled with multicolored pills later identified as methamphetamine, which authorities say he intended to distribute. But the drugs weren’t the only illegal items in the car; Grayson was also found to be in possession of a stolen Kimber Model Ultra TLE II, a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol.
Grayson’s criminal history complicates matters. He’s already a convicted felon, barred from owning firearms due to a prior conviction for possession with intent to distribute heroin. The combination of drug trafficking and illegal gun possession now carries significant penalties. Federal prosecutors are pursuing maximum sentencing under both charges.
The drug trafficking conviction carries a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison, with a potential maximum of 40 years, alongside a fine of up to $5,000,000 and at least four years of supervised release. The firearm conviction carries a separate maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. Both charges also include a mandatory $100 special assessment fee, adding insult to injury.
Federal officials are framing the case as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and community organizations. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened PSN strategy in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, preventative measures, and focused enforcement.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Kenner Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is prosecuting the case. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as sentencing approaches and provide updates on Grayson’s fate.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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