NEW ORLEANS, LA – Herbert James, 27, of New Orleans, is looking at serious time after admitting to federal charges of illegal gun possession and dealing narcotics. The plea, entered on April 19, 2023, stems from a traffic stop last April that exposed a dangerous combination of firepower and street drugs.
Louisiana State Police troopers pulled James over on April 22, 2022, and found a fully loaded Sig Sauer nine-millimeter handgun tucked away. But the gun wasn’t the only problem. James was also carrying a quantity of Ecstasy, indicating a clear intent to distribute. The bust quickly escalated when investigators discovered James’s criminal past.
Records revealed a 2018 conviction for aggravated flight from an officer, a felony that legally barred him from owning a firearm. The feds didn’t waste any time building a case, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana brought down a two-count indictment. James now faces the music for violating both federal gun control laws – specifically Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2) – and narcotics trafficking laws – Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C).
The potential penalties are steep. On the gun charge, James could receive up to ten years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and three years of supervised release. The narcotics charge carries an even heavier sentence: up to twenty years behind bars, a $1,000,000 fine, and a mandatory minimum of three years of supervised release. He’ll also be hit with a $200 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans highlighted that this case is part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a federal initiative aimed at curbing violent crime and gun violence through coordinated law enforcement efforts. The program focuses on building trust within communities, supporting local organizations, and strategically targeting enforcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Louisiana State Police jointly investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Kennedy of the Violent Crime Unit handling the prosecution. Sentencing is currently scheduled for August 9, 2023. The Grimy Times will be there to report the outcome.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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