Brian Stephens, Possessing Firearms After Felony Convictions, Louisiana 2020

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On October 13, 2020, Brian Stephens, a 35-year-old New Orleans resident, was sentenced for possessing firearms after felony convictions.

According to court documents, Stephens, an armed career criminal, possessed firearms on three occasions. On July 16, 2017, Stephens was stopped in a vehicle in possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and then fled on foot. On October 3, 2018, Stephens discarded a stolen firearm during a foot chase with police officers. On December 20, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Stephens’s home in Metairie and located two firearms, one of which was stolen.

U.S. District Court Judge Wendy B. Vitter sentenced Stephens to serve 15 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Vitter also imposed a $300 special assessment.

Project Safe Neighborhoods, the centerpiece of the government’s violent crime reduction efforts, is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.

U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Louisiana State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter.

Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni was in charge of the prosecution.

The 15-year prison sentence and three years of supervised release will keep Stephens off the streets for a significant period of time, and serve as a deterrent to others who may think about engaging in similar behavior. The $300 special assessment is a small price to pay for the safety and security of the community.

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