U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Stolen Firearms
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced yesterday that STEVEN RE, age 42, of Florida, pleaded guilty to Counts 1 and 2 of the Indictment, which charged him with possession of stolen firearms, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(j) and 924(a)(2).
According to court documents, RE sold stolen firearms to pawn shops on September 8, 2017 and September 15, 2017. RE confessed that he stole the firearms in residential burglaries and brought them to pawn shops to obtain money to buy drugs.
RE faces a maximum of ten years of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person. RE may be placed on supervised release for a period of up to three years and fined a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 per count. U.S. District Court Judge Jay C. Zainey set sentencing for February 5, 2019.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safe for everyone. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, then Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN was launched in 2001.
U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Hammond Police Department, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria M. Carboni and Ryan McLaren are in charge of the prosecution.
* * *
Updated November 9, 2018
Topics
Firearms Offenses
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Component