Metairie’s Randolph B. Martin Charged as Felon with Firearm

A Metairie man with a decades-old burglary conviction is back in the crosshairs of federal law enforcement. Randolph B. Martin, 39, was charged today in a one-count Bill of Information with being a felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of the Federal Gun Control Act, U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced.

The charge stems from Martin’s 1995 conviction for burglary, adjudicated in the Superior Court of Gwinnett County, Georgia. That felony conviction legally barred him from possessing any firearm under federal law—a restriction prosecutors say he violated, prompting the current federal indictment.

According to court documents, Martin’s status as a previously convicted felon makes the possession of any firearm a serious federal offense. The statute he’s charged under carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following incarceration.

U.S. Attorney Polite emphasized that the Bill of Information is not a finding of guilt, but rather the formal start of prosecution. “This is a charge,” Polite stated. “The defendant’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”

The investigation was a joint effort between the United States Secret Service and the New Orleans Police Department, both of which U.S. Attorney Polite credited for their critical roles in building the case. Details about how the firearm was discovered or recovered were not released.

Assistant United States Attorney Loan “Mimi” Nguyen is leading the prosecution. Martin awaits arraignment, where he will enter a formal plea. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of incarceration under federal sentencing guidelines for firearm offenses involving felons.