New Orleans Man Indicted on Federal Firearms Charge

NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ANTHONY THOMAS, age 49, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged on December 21, 2023, in a one-count indictment.

According to the court documents, on or about December 12, 2023, in the Eastern District of Louisiana, the defendant, ANTHONY THOMAS, knowing he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, knowingly possessed a Smith & Wesson Model SW40V, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).

If convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, THOMAS faces a maximum of fifteen (15) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, not more than (3) years of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.  

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Protective Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Kennedy.