Press Releases
ORLEANS PARISH MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT TO WEAPONS CHARGE
May 29, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GEORGE R. JEFFERSON, age 32, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty in federal court today before U. S. District Judge Helen G. Berrigan to a one count federal felony Bill of Information for illegally possessing firearms, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to documents filed in federal court, JEFFERSON was arrested on March 2, 2009 for possessing five firearms (an SKS 7.62x39 caliber rifle, a Mossburg 12 gauge shotgun, an Ishmash .410 caliber shotgun, a Taurus .44 caliber revolver, and a Bryco .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun) in the 1300 block of Lamanche St. in New Orleans. NOPD officers acquired a search warrant for JEFFERSON’s residence on Lamanche St. As officers approached the residence they observed JEFFERSON in his vehicle, which was parked in the driveway, holding a bag of marijuana. Officers arrested JEFFERSON for possession of marijuana and then searched the residence in accordance with the search warrant. Officers found the five firearms in various locations inside and under the residence. JEFFERSON is prohibited from possessing any firearms due to a felony conviction in 1998 in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court for distribution of cocaine.
The defendant faces a possible maximum sentence of ten (10) years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, forfeiture of the firearms and a maximum of three (3) years of federal supervision after the completion of his prison sentence. He will be sentenced on September 2, 2009 at 9:00 A.M.
This case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department along with Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rick Veters of the Violent Crime Unit.
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