Maurice Butler, Gun Possession, Louisiana 2023

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Maurice Butler, 35, of Mandeville, Louisiana, is facing a decade in federal prison after admitting he illegally possessed a firearm. Butler pleaded guilty Tuesday, April 4, 2023, to a single count indictment charging him with being a convicted felon in possession of a gun, a violation of Federal Gun Control Act, Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). The case highlights the revolving door of crime that plagues the Gulf Coast.

The bust went down during a routine traffic stop conducted by St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies. They quickly learned Butler was wanted by the New Orleans Police Department for a previous armed robbery. But the traffic stop yielded more than just a fugitive; deputies spotted a Glock Model 17, nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol brazenly displayed on the passenger seat of Butler’s vehicle. The weapon was later confirmed to be stolen.

Investigators soon dug up Butler’s rap sheet, revealing a history of felony convictions that legally barred him from owning or possessing any firearm. This wasn’t a first-time offender simply making a mistake. Butler knew the law, and blatantly disregarded it, adding another layer of danger to the streets. The ATF took over the investigation, working alongside local law enforcement.

Butler now faces a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment, a hefty fine of up to $250,000.00, and up to three years of supervised release after serving his time. He’ll also be hit with a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. The sentencing is scheduled for July 25, 2023, giving Butler time to consider the consequences of his actions.

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the guilty plea, framing the case as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN),” a federal initiative aimed at curbing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. While the program sounds good on paper, it’s often just a bandage on a gaping wound of systemic issues.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Kennedy of the Violent Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. Whether this conviction will truly make neighborhoods safer remains to be seen, but it’s a small victory in a city drowning in violence.

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