NEW ORLEANS, LA – Harold Declouet, 22, of New Orleans, is facing a lengthy federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to a quartet of serious drug and weapons charges. The bust, a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, reveals a young man deeply involved in the city’s narcotics trade and willing to arm himself while doing so.
According to court documents, Declouet twice sold cocaine base to an ATF confidential informant during February 2022. This wasn’t a one-off attempt to make a quick buck; the investigation revealed a pattern of drug dealing. Just months later, in May 2022, law enforcement executed an arrest that yielded a significant haul: cocaine base, marijuana, tramadol pills, over $1,000 in cash, and a loaded Glock Model 19 handgun containing 31 rounds of ammunition. The weapon, prosecutors successfully argued, was directly tied to his criminal enterprise.
Declouet admitted guilt to two counts of distribution of cocaine base, violating 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). He also pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, marijuana, and tramadol, a violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D), and 841(b)(2). But the charge carrying the most severe potential penalty is the one for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
The sentencing guidelines are harsh. For the drug distribution and possession charges, Declouet faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and a minimum of three years of supervised release per count. The firearms charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, potentially extending to life in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentences imposed. He also faces a potential fine of up to $250,000 and up to five years of supervised release on that charge, in addition to a $100 special assessment fee for each count.
Federal prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit, are framing this case as a victory for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The program, recently bolstered by a new violent crime reduction strategy, emphasizes community trust, support for local organizations, and focused enforcement.
While the Justice Department touts PSN’s success, the reality on the streets of New Orleans remains grim. Declouet’s case is a stark reminder of the readily available firearms fueling the city’s drug trade and the consequences faced by those caught in the crosshairs of law enforcement. Sentencing is pending, but Declouet’s future looks bleak, and his case adds another chapter to the ongoing struggle against crime in the Crescent City.
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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