Gerard Lawless, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Louisiana 2021

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana – Gerard Lawless, a 41-year-old man from New Orleans, was sentenced to 81 months of imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). This sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Lance M. Africk on February 3, 2021.

According to court documents, on August 4, 2018, Lawless possessed a Ruger .38 caliber firearm in New Orleans. Lawless had previously been convicted of a felony offense punishable by more than 1 year of imprisonment in the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court.

This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”). OCDETF is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and New Orleans Police Department in investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Privitera and Jonathan L. Shih are in charge of the prosecution.

Gerard Lawless, 41, of New Orleans, was sentenced to 81 months of imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).

This case is a prime example of the ongoing efforts to keep our communities safe from gun violence and the impact of felons possessing firearms. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly to investigate and prosecute those who threaten the safety of our citizens.

The court documents revealed that Lawless had previously been convicted of a felony offense punishable by more than 1 year of imprisonment in the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, making him ineligible to possess a firearm.

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