Roland J. Bourgeois Jr., Hate Crime, Louisiana 2005
New Orleans Man Charged with Hate Crime
A 47-year-old man from Columbia, Miss., has been charged with conspiring to commit a hate crime, committing a hate crime with a deadly weapon and with intent to kill, making false statements, and obstructing justice in connection with a shooting that occurred in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Roland J. Bourgeois Jr. was named in a five-count indictment announced by Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez and U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to the indictment, on September 1, 2005, Bourgeois fired a shotgun at three African-American men in the Algiers Point neighborhood of New Orleans, wounding them as they attempted to evacuate the city after Hurricane Katrina.
The indictment alleges that Bourgeois discussed shooting African-Americans and defending Algiers Point from outsiders, including African-Americans who did not live in the neighborhood. After firing the shotgun, Bourgeois allegedly warned an African-American resident of Algiers Point that 'anything coming up this street darker than a brown paper bag is getting shot.'
Bourgeois is also charged with providing a false statement to federal agents investigating the shooting and with corruptly persuading an eyewitness to lie to the FBI.
The indictment further alleges that Bourgeois used a firearm in furtherance of the alleged conspiracy and civil rights offenses.
Bourgeois faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison.
This case is being investigated by the New Orleans Field Office of the FBI and is being prosecuted by the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.
Roland J. Bourgeois Jr. is currently a resident of Columbia, Miss.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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