Darrion Young, Gun Possession and False Statements, LA 2015

Gun crime and federal deception landed New Orleans man Darrion Young, 32, behind bars for 40 months. Young, already a convicted felon, was sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm and making false statements to federal agents—crimes that derailed justice and nearly sent an innocent man to prison.

On November 24, 2015, Young was found in possession of a firearm, a direct violation of federal law due to his prior felony conviction in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. That conviction alone barred him from owning or handling any firearm, yet he ignored the law and put public safety at risk.

But Young’s criminal conduct didn’t stop there. After his arrest, he twice lied to agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). In a calculated move to deflect blame, he falsely accused another man of involvement in the November 22, 2015 shooting at Bunny Friend Park.

The man Young accused was not even in Louisiana at the time of the shooting. Despite that, the false allegation led to the man’s incarceration for approximately two weeks before authorities uncovered the truth. Young’s lies wasted investigative resources and inflicted real harm on an innocent person.

U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan handed down the 40-month prison sentence and tacked on an additional three years of supervised release. The court’s decision underscores the severity of illegally armed felons and the damage caused by undermining federal investigations with fabricated claims.

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans, who announced the sentence, commended the ATF for their thorough work in uncovering the truth. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih is prosecuting the case, ensuring accountability not just for the gun charge, but for the deliberate attempt to manipulate the justice system.

RELATED: Darrion Young Sentenced for Gun Crime, Lying to ATF