Press Releases
NEW ORLEANS MAN TO SPEND 9 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR VIOLATING FEDERAL GUN LAWS
June 17, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BYRON LADELL WILLIAMS, age 23, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced yesterday by U. S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to nine (9) years (108 months) imprisonment for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
After the sentencing hearing, Judge Zainey granted the Government’s request for an upward variance from the recommended sentencing range of 63 to 78 months, stating, that the recommended sentence was, “woefully inadequate” under the circumstances of the case. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Zainey imposed three (3) years of supervised release following the term of imprisonment, during which time the defendant will be under federal supervision and risks an additional term of imprisonment should he violate any terms of his supervised release.
WILLIAMS was convicted on February 19, 2009 after a three-day trial. During the trial, the jury heard testimony that WILLIAMS, was arrested by the New Orleans Police Department on a special proactive patrol in the Cutoff area of New Orleans on March 20, 2008. The testimony showed that WILLIAMS was in a rear seat of the parked vehicle in an apartment complex plagued by high crime. The apartment management had requested assistance from NOPD officers to patrol the area. Based on the officer’s observations of WILLIAMS, NOPD officers asked the defendant to step out of the vehicle. Further investigation revealed that a ready-to-fire Mac 9 semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 26 rounds, was located on the floorboard of the car behind the defendant’s legs. Pursuant to Project Safe Neighborhood, the case was adopted by the United States Attorney’s Office on April 16, 2008.
WILLIAMS had two prior felony convictions, one from Orleans and another from Jefferson Parish for possession of “crack” cocaine and was awaiting trial on a previous state charge for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Based on the investigation, WILLIAMS was taken into federal custody and a federal complaint was filed against WILLIAMS on April 10, 2008. WILLIAMS was ordered detained without bond at a federal detention hearing held on April 17, 2008.
The case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Tony Sanders and André Jones.
