Laird Johnson, Gun Theft & Felon Possession, New Orleans LA, 2023

NEW ORLEANS, LA – A 24-year-old New Orleans man, Laird Johnson, has confessed to a string of federal gun violations, admitting he stole a handgun and illegally possessed firearms despite a lengthy criminal record. Johnson pleaded guilty on March 23, 2023, to a five-count indictment that lays bare a pattern of disregard for the law and a dangerous escalation of criminal behavior.

According to court documents, Johnson brazenly pilfered a Glock Model 19X 9mm semi-automatic handgun from PDW Solutions, LLC, a licensed firearms dealer, on June 19, 2021. This wasn’t a one-time lapse in judgment. Less than a month later, on July 23, 2021, he was found to be in possession of a firearm. A subsequent search of his residence on August 10, 2021, unearthed a small armory: a Zastava Arms 7.62 Rifle, a Glock Model 19 9mm, and the stolen Glock Model 19X, confirming the scope of his illegal collection.

Johnson’s ability to acquire these weapons was already unlawful. He is explicitly prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior convictions in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. His rap sheet includes aggravated assault with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and simple burglary – crimes that should have kept him far from any weapon. But Johnson ignored those restrictions, putting himself and the community at risk.

The charges against Johnson are serious. Count 1 of the indictment centers on the theft of the firearm from PDW Solutions, LLC. Counts 2 through 4 accuse him of possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon, a violation of federal law. Count 5 specifically addresses his possession of the stolen handgun. Each of these counts carries a potential sentence of up to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory 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 by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened version of PSN in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, preventative measures, and focused enforcement. Whether this initiative will truly make a dent in New Orleans’ crime rate remains to be seen.

The investigation was spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Strauss of the Violent Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. Johnson now awaits sentencing, a reckoning for his choices and a signal – hopefully – that illegal gun activity will not be tolerated in the Eastern District of Louisiana. The ATF New Orleans Field Division handled the investigation.

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