New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Weapons Offense

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JUSTIN HENRY, age 41, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on April 27, 2023 before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court documents, NOPD officers observed HENRY, a convicted felon, in an SUV that was suspected to be stolen from the Norfolk Southern railyard.  HENRY attempted to flee from the officers on foot and in the process discarded a semi-automatic pistol loaded with an extended magazine.

HENRY faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.

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.

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crimes Unit.