Terrance Richards, Ammunition Possession, Louisiana 2023

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Terrance Richards, 38, of New Orleans, has admitted to illegally possessing ammunition despite a lengthy rap sheet that already includes multiple felony convictions. The guilty plea, entered on July 6, 2023, stems from a 2020 shooting incident and a subsequent investigation by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The trouble began on August 22, 2020, when NOPD officers responded to reports of gunfire at the intersection of General Ogden and Olive Streets. The investigation quickly pointed to Richards as one of the individuals involved in the shooting. What sealed his fate, however, wasn’t the alleged gunfire itself, but his already checkered past.

Court records reveal a pattern of criminal behavior. Richards has prior felony convictions for attempted distribution of cocaine (2010), possession of cocaine (2010), being a felon in possession of a firearm (2011), and distribution of cocaine (2012). These convictions legally barred him from possessing any firearms or ammunition. The feds didn’t need to prove he fired a shot; simply possessing the ammo was enough.

Now, Richards is looking at a potential decade behind bars. He faces a maximum sentence of ten (10) years imprisonment, along with a hefty fine of up to $250,000.00. If convicted, he will also be subject to up to three (3) years of supervised release after completing his sentence, and will be required to pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the guilty plea, framing the case as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN), a federal program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The program, according to the Department of Justice, focuses on building trust with communities, supporting local violence prevention organizations, and strategic enforcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit is prosecuting the case, with the ATF and NOPD handling the investigation. Richards is scheduled to be sentenced on October 26, 2023. While the streets of New Orleans are awash in gun violence, this conviction represents a small, but significant, step towards holding repeat offenders accountable. The question remains, will it be enough to stem the tide?

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