Press Releases
NEW ORLEANS MAN SENTENCED TO 40 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR WEAPONS VIOLATION
October 30, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DAMON GILLAM, age 25, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced today in federal court by U. S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt to forty (40) months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Engelhardt ordered that GILLAM be placed on 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.
According to court documents on May 14, 2009, GILLAM pled guilty admitting that he possessed a 9mm Makarov semi-automatic pistol in the 1900 block of Seventh St. in New Orleans. According to the factual basis, on January 23, 2009, NOPD officers observed GILLAM holding a marijuana joint in his hand while sitting on the front porch steps at 1935 Seventh St. Officers stopped to take enforcement action, arrested GILLAM for possessing marijuana, and then conducted a search incidental to arrest. During the search, officers recovered the 9mm semi-automatic pistol from GILLAM’s waistband which was concealed under his shirt. GILLAM is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a felony conviction for in January 2005 in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court.
The case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department along with agents from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rick Veters.
