Warren Picard, Firearms & Misprision, New Orleans LA, 2022

NEW ORLEANS – Warren Picard, 28, of New Orleans, is headed to federal prison for nearly a decade. U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk handed down a 96-month sentence on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, after Picard pleaded guilty to charges related to illegal firearms and obstruction of justice.

Picard admitted to conspiring to possess a firearm as a convicted felon, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. The feds also hit him with misprision of felony, under 18 U.S.C. § 4 – meaning he knowingly concealed a crime. The 96-month sentence is a combination of 60 months for the firearms charge and 36 months for covering up the felony, to be served concurrently.

Court records reveal Picard’s guilty plea came on June 29, 2022, to a two-count superseding bill of information. While details of the underlying felony Picard concealed remain sparse in the official release, the charges paint a picture of a man willing to bend the law and then actively hide his actions. The ATF and the New Orleans Police Department worked the case, building the evidence that led to Picard’s conviction.

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans touted the sentence as a win for “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN), a federal initiative designed to combat violent crime and gun violence. The program, according to the Department of Justice, focuses on building trust with communities, supporting local organizations, and concentrating enforcement efforts where they’re needed most. The Department launched a revamped PSN strategy in May 2021, claiming to prioritize focused enforcement and measurable results.

The feds are keen to emphasize the collaborative aspect of this case, with both the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the New Orleans Police Department sharing credit for the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Kennedy was the lead prosecutor on the case, securing the conviction and lengthy sentence for Picard.

This case serves as a stark reminder that possessing firearms as a felon and attempting to cover up criminal activity carry significant federal penalties. For Picard, that penalty translates to eight years behind bars, and a permanent mark on his record. The Grimy Times will continue to follow federal crime in the Eastern District of Louisiana.

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