New Orleans Man Indicted for Machinegun Possession

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – XAVION WATTS, age 19, a New Orleans resident, was indicted on January 19, 2023 for possession of a machinegun, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(o).

WATTS faces up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000,  up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.  The indictment alleges that the Glock nine-millimeter pistol he possessed had been converted into a fully automatic weapon.

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.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.