NEW ORLEANS, LA – Morris Summers, 31, is looking at serious time after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The New Orleans resident admitted his guilt before United States District Judge Susie Morgan on January 31, 2023, adding another mark to a growing rap sheet.
According to federal court records, this isn’t Summers’ first brush with the law. He was previously convicted in federal court – also before Judge Morgan – on charges of conspiring to distribute crack cocaine and conspiring to possess firearms specifically to aid in drug trafficking. Apparently, a prior conviction wasn’t enough of a deterrent.
The latest offense came to light on June 26, 2022, when Summers was found to be in possession of a Springfield Armory Model Hellcat, a nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol. The feds didn’t waste any time connecting him to the weapon, and now he’s paying the price. This isn’t about Second Amendment rights; it’s about a convicted criminal flaunting the law.
Judge Morgan has scheduled sentencing for April 27, 2023. Summers faces a hefty penalty: up to 15 years in federal prison, a fine reaching $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release after serving his time. A mandatory $100 special assessment fee will also be tacked on. It’s a steep price, but does it fit the repeated offense?
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans highlighted that this case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The program attempts to foster trust between law enforcement and communities, support violence prevention organizations, and focus enforcement efforts. Whether PSN will truly make a dent in New Orleans’ crime rate remains to be seen.
The investigation was a joint effort between the New Orleans Police Department, the Louisiana State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney David Haller is handling the prosecution. This case serves as a stark reminder that possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon carries severe consequences, and the feds are actively pursuing these cases in New Orleans.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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