NEW ORLEANS, LA – Another illegally armed felon is off the streets of New Orleans after 26-year-old Derrick Johnson pleaded guilty today to violating federal gun control laws. Johnson faces a significant prison sentence for possessing firearms despite a lengthy criminal history that already barred him from owning weapons.
The case unfolded when Johnson was arrested on a state warrant at a New Orleans motel. Officers responding to the warrant spotted two guns inside the room and immediately called in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Johnson readily admitted ownership of the weapons to the arriving ATF agent.
A subsequent search, conducted with the consent of the motel room’s renter, turned up a .380 pistol and a 9-millimeter pistol. Both firearms were confirmed to belong to Johnson, who has racked up multiple prior felony convictions, making firearm possession illegal. The feds weren’t messing around.
Johnson now stands convicted of being a felon in possession of firearms. He’ll be back in court April 11, 2024, to hear his fate. Federal prosecutors are seeking a maximum sentence of 15 years behind bars, alongside a potential fine of up to $250,000. Add to that up to 3 years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. That’s a steep price to pay for a repeat offender.
This takedown is part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN), a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by uniting law enforcement at all levels with the communities they serve. The DOJ launched a renewed focus on PSN in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, violence prevention, and strategic enforcement.
The investigation was a joint effort between the ATF’s New Orleans Field Division and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Haller of the Violent Crime Unit is prosecuting the case, ensuring that Johnson is held accountable for his actions. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing when it occurs.
Related Federal Cases
- Shamar Holmes, Gun Violation, New Orleans LA, 2023 · Louisiana
- Derrick Johnson, Gun Possession, Baton Rouge LA, 2023 · Louisiana
- Michael Crawford, Gun Violation, New Orleans LA, 2023 · Louisiana
- Christopher Shaw, Gun Violation, New Orleans LA, 2023 · California
- Shamar Holmes, Gun Violation, New Orleans LA, 2023 · Louisiana
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