Darron Blue Sentenced

A New Orleans man has been sentenced to prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. DARRON BLUE, age 27, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on July 10, 2024 to fifty-seven (57) months in prison, three years of supervised release and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

According to court records, on October 1, 2023, New Orleans police officers developed BLUE as a suspect in a downtown New Orleans shooting and secured both an arrest warrant for him, and a search warrant for his residence. During the execution of the search warrant, police officers seized a Smith & Wesson Model SW40VE, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, as well as .40 and .45 caliber ammunition.

BLUE pleaded guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk. The sentence is a result of the joint efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department for their work on this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution. The successful prosecution of BLUE demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement to reducing violent crime in New Orleans.

The sentencing of BLUE serves as a reminder that convicted felons are not allowed to possess firearms. The possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is a serious crime that can result in significant prison time. The community can be assured that law enforcement is working tirelessly to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.