RACELAND, LA – Damer Smith, 46, of Raceland, Louisiana, has confessed to federal authorities that he possessed a firearm while engaged in drug trafficking. Smith pled guilty on April 4, 2023, to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A) and 924(c)(1)(A)(i). The plea comes with a hefty price: Smith now faces a minimum of five years in prison, and potentially life, along with up to five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A $100 special assessment fee will also be levied.
The case stems from a November 17, 2018 incident where Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Smith’s residence following a chilling threat to his minor children. According to court documents, Smith immediately escalated the situation by firing a shot into the yard as deputies arrived. He surrendered without further incident, allowing officers to safely remove the children from the volatile environment.
A subsequent search of Smith’s home revealed a disturbing arsenal: three firearms, a cache of ammunition, and nearly four pounds (3,898 grams) of pre-packaged marijuana, clearly intended for distribution. While initially facing additional charges – Possession of a Firearm After a Domestic Violence Conviction and Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana – prosecutors agreed to drop those counts in exchange for the guilty plea on the firearm-drug charge.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans of the Eastern District of Louisiana emphasized that Smith’s sentencing is scheduled for July 1, 2023, before United States District Court Judge Greg G. Guidry. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit. This case isn’t being treated as an isolated incident.
Federal officials are framing Smith’s conviction as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN), a broad initiative aimed at curbing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement agencies and local communities. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened version of PSN in May 2021, focusing on building trust, supporting community organizations, and strategically prioritizing enforcement.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office were jointly responsible for the investigation. The ATF’s involvement underscores the federal focus on disrupting the intersection of firearms and drug trafficking, a dangerous combination that fuels violence on the streets. Smith’s conviction serves as a stark warning: those who arm themselves while peddling drugs will face the full force of the law.
Related Federal Cases
- Timothy Bowman Faces Lawsuit for Gun Safety Law Violations, St. Law… · Louisiana
- Austin, Cocaine and Gun Trafficking, Marrero LA, 2023 · Louisiana
- Santos Gavarrete-Nataren, Gun Smuggling, New Orleans LA, 2023 · Alabama
- Eric Dwayne Williams, Felony Gun Charge, Shreveport LA, 2023 · Louisiana
- Juan Francisco Saenz-Tamez, Texas Drug Trafficking, Beaumont TX, 2023 · Louisiana
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News