Percy Smith, Weapons Violations, Louisiana 2022

New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violating Weapons Laws

A 45-year-old Orleans Parish resident has been sentenced to 63 months imprisonment for violating federal weapons laws. Percy Smith was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Barbier to 63 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee after pleading guilty to three counts of a seven-count superseding indictment.

The indictment charged Smith with possessing a firearm, first on June 19, 2021, and again on June 30, 2021, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).

According to court documents, Smith was seen with a duffle bag containing a firearm by NOPD officers who responded to a domestic abuse battery call on June 19, 2021. On June 30, 2021, Smith was arrested on a warrant for domestic abuse battery and aggravated assault. During his arrest, officers saw Smith drop a firearm.

As a convicted felon, Smith is prohibited from possessing these weapons. The case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence in the community.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department were commended by U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for their work on the case. Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit prosecuted the case.

The sentencing comes as the U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to prioritize violent crime reduction strategies, including the launch of a violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, which strengthened the PSN program based on core principles of fostering trust and legitimacy in the community, supporting community-based organizations, setting focused enforcement priorities, and measuring results.

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