NEW ORLEANS, LA – Eighteen-year-old Keon Esteen is facing over a decade behind bars after being sentenced to 130 months in federal prison for a brazen carjacking that occurred on April 3, 2021, in New Orleans. U.S. District Court Judge Barry W. Ashe delivered the sentence on April 13, 2023, bringing a measure of closure to a case highlighting the city’s ongoing struggle with violent crime.
Esteen pleaded guilty to carjacking under Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119(1). The sentencing breaks down to 46 months for the carjacking itself, and a consecutive 84-month term for brandishing a firearm during the commission of the crime, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(ii). The victim was threatened with force during the carjacking, which was carried out with an accomplice who also displayed a firearm.
According to court documents, Esteen and his co-conspirator targeted a victim on the streets of New Orleans, seizing their vehicle through intimidation and the threat of violence. The brandishing of the firearm significantly escalated the severity of the crime, triggering the mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines. Following his release, Esteen will be subject to five years of supervised release, with a three-year concurrent term for Count 1 and a five-year term for Count 2.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans, leading the Eastern District of Louisiana, emphasized the case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive initiative designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement, along with community organizations. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened PSN strategy in May 2021, focusing on building trust, supporting preventative programs, prioritizing enforcement, and tracking results.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) and the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) were instrumental in the investigation and apprehension of Esteen. U.S. Attorney Evans specifically lauded their collaborative efforts, noting the complex nature of these investigations often requires seamless coordination between agencies. Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit prosecuted the case.
In addition to the lengthy prison sentence and supervised release, Esteen was ordered to pay a mandatory $200 special assessment fee for each of the two counts in the indictment. While this sentence won’t undo the trauma inflicted on the victim, it sends a clear message that armed carjacking will not be tolerated in New Orleans, and those who engage in such violent acts will face serious federal consequences.
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- Santos Gavarrete-Nataren, Gun Smuggling, New Orleans LA, 2023 · Alabama
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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