Deborah Cooper, Robbery, Louisiana 2022

A New Orleans woman has been found guilty of two robberies of a local bar. Deborah Cooper, 54, was convicted of all seven counts against her in a federal trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo.

The jury found Cooper guilty of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, interference with commerce by robbery, using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and tampering with proceedings.

According to court documents, Cooper and an unknown person robbed Igor’s Lounge, located on St. Charles Avenue, in New Orleans in February and March of 2022. During the February robbery, Cooper and the unknown person held an Igor’s bartender at gunpoint and demanded she open the register and poker drawer. The robbers then forced the bartender to the rear of the bar, and ordered her, at gunpoint, to lie on the floor while they fled. The robbers stole over twelve hundred dollars ($1,200.00) in U.S. currency.

Similarly, during the March robbery, Cooper and the unknown person returned to Igor’s and robbed another bartender at gunpoint. This time, they stole over seven thousand dollars ($7,000.00) in U.S. currency.

The New Orleans Police Department investigated the robberies and obtained surveillance footage showing the robbers parking Cooper’s Ram pickup truck near Igor’s on the day of the February robbery. NOPD then obtained a search warrant for Cooper’s residence and located various items of clothing worn by Cooper during the robberies, twelve hundred dollars ($1,200.00) in U.S. currency, and a Smith and Wesson firearm, that Cooper attempted to hide, during this search.

U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo will sentence Cooper on May 7, 2025. Cooper faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 14 years imprisonment up to a maximum term of life imprisonment as a result of being convicted of two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. This sentence will run consecutive to the sentences imposed by the Court for the remaining counts for which Cooper was convicted.

Cooper also faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years for her convictions for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, Hobbs Act Robbery, and Tampering with Proceedings. For the felon in possession of a firearm conviction, Cooper faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Cooper also faces a term of supervised release of up to 5 years after completing her term of imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brittany Reed and Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crime/Strike Force Unit.

Related Federal Cases