NEW ORLEANS, LA – A 19-year-old Orleans Parish resident is facing serious federal charges after an attempted carjacking last October. KYREN WASHINGTON was indicted on January 26, 2023, by a federal grand jury, according to U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
The incident occurred on October 20, 2022. While details of the attempted theft haven’t been released, the indictment accuses WASHINGTON of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 2199(1) – the federal statute covering carjacking attempts. It’s another sign of escalating brazenness in a city already struggling with violent crime.
If convicted, WASHINGTON could face a hefty 15-year prison sentence. The potential penalties don’t stop there: he also faces a maximum fine of $250,000.00, up to 3 years of supervised release after serving his time, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. The feds aren’t playing around.
U.S. Attorney Evans framed the prosecution as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a broad initiative aiming to reduce violent crime through collaborative law enforcement efforts. The Department of Justice launched a revamped PSN strategy in May 2021, focusing on building community trust, supporting violence prevention programs, and targeted enforcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) worked together on the investigation. ATF agents likely brought their expertise in firearms and potentially any weapon used or threatened during the attempted carjacking. The NOPD’s local knowledge would have been crucial in building the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Violent Crime Unit, is handling the prosecution. This case underscores the federal government’s commitment to tackling violent crime in New Orleans, even when it overlaps with local jurisdiction. Expect a full-blown federal trial and a push for the maximum sentence if WASHINGTON is convicted.
Related Federal Cases
- Charles General, Possession of Stolen Firearm, Washington DC, 2023 · West Virginia
- David Oday Smith, Dumps Loaded Firearm, Washington D.C., 2025 · Maryland
- Cecil J. Rotnem, Federal Firearm Possession, Washington 2024 · Illinois
- William Ali, Missile Parts Smuggling, Washington 2024 · Maryland
- Ryan Matthew Neely, Gun Smuggling Attempt, Washington 2024 · Alaska
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
WeaponsWeaponsWeaponsWeapons