NEW ORLEANS, LA – Kendall Theard, 26, of Orleans Parish, walked out of court on October 6, 2023, having received a sentence of time served for a 2021 bust that turned up illegal narcotics and a machine gun. U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo also handed down 3 years of supervised release and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. The sentence comes after Theard previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, violating Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and (b)(1)(D).
The trouble began July 29, 2021, when New Orleans Police Officers pulled over a vehicle carrying three people, including Theard. Instead of cooperating, Theard bolted from the car, leading officers on a brief chase before being apprehended. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a cocktail of illegal drugs and, more seriously, a fully automatic machine gun.
Federal prosecutors were quick to tie the case to Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through coordinated law enforcement efforts. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened version of PSN in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, prevention programs, targeted enforcement, and measurable results – all buzzwords that often mask the realities on the streets.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans lauded the combined work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department in bringing the case to conclusion. While Theard avoided significant jail time, the feds are spinning this as a win for public safety. The question remains: is a few years of supervision enough to deter others from following the same path?
Assistant U.S. Attorney Inga Petrovich, of the Violent Crime Unit, handled the prosecution. The ATF’s New Orleans Field Division was the lead agency on the investigation. Details regarding the specific type of controlled substance and the origin of the machine gun remain scarce, raising questions about the broader network potentially involved.
The lenient sentence, time served, suggests a possible plea bargain or mitigating circumstances not publicly disclosed. While Theard is now subject to supervision, the streets of New Orleans remain awash in both drugs and illegal firearms, a grim testament to the ongoing struggle against violent crime. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and its implications for the city’s ongoing battle against gun violence and the drug trade.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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