NEW ORLEANS, LA – The party on Bourbon Street took a dangerous turn this past Mardi Gras, and now Keaton Manghane, 24, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is facing the consequences. Manghane pleaded guilty today to federal charges of possessing a machine gun, a reckless act that could have turned the festive atmosphere into a bloodbath.
According to court documents, Manghane wasn’t just enjoying the beads and booze; he was carrying a loaded handgun equipped with an illegal Glock auto-sear in his pocket. The device transformed the semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic machine gun, a weapon strictly prohibited under federal law. The incident occurred just after 2 a.m. on February 21st, amidst the peak of the Mardi Gras celebrations.
ATF agents quickly confirmed the firearm’s dangerous capability. Testing revealed the handgun, when fitted with the auto-sear, functioned as a fully automatic machine gun. This wasn’t some modified antique; it was a modern firearm illegally converted into a weapon of war, brazenly carried through a crowd of revelers.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana is prosecuting the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney David Berman leading the charge. Manghane now faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison, alongside a hefty fine of up to $250,000. He’s also looking at up to 3 years of supervised release after his prison term and a $100 special assessment fee.
Federal officials are framing this case as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN), a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence nationwide. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened PSN strategy in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, preventative measures, focused enforcement, and measurable results. But for the people on Bourbon Street that night, it was a proactive investigation by the ATF and the New Orleans Police Department that prevented potential disaster.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. While the beads and throws are long gone from Mardi Gras 2023, the repercussions for Keaton Manghane are just beginning. This case serves as a stark reminder that illegal weapons have no place in crowded public spaces, even during a celebration.
Related Federal Cases
- Keaton Manghane, Machinegun Possession, New Orleans LA, 2023 · Tennessee
- Keaton Manghane, Machinegun Possession, New Orleans LA, 2023 · Tennessee
- Keaton Manghane Pleads Guilty to Possessing Machine Gun, New Orleans LA, 2023 · Tennessee
- Angelo Demario Young, Illegal Firearm Possession, LA 2024 · Louisiana
- Memphis Man Sentenced for Machine Gun Conversion Devices · Tennessee
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