New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Gun Control Act and Possessing Car Stolen from Norfolk Southern Railyard

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DESMOND TAYLOR, age 27, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on November 2, 2023 before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), and possession of goods stolen from an interstate shipment, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 659.

According to court documents, on March 27, 2023, a 2023 Ford Explorer Timberline was stolen from the Norfolk Southern Automotive Distribution Facility.  TAYLOR was captured on surveillance video occupying the Explorer on multiple occasions over the next week.  On April 3, 2023, TAYLOR arrived at a residence in the Seventh Ward in the stolen Explorer with several other individuals.  While inside the stolen vehicle, TAYLOR possessed an American Tactical Model MilSport, .223 caliber firearm.  Prior to possessing the firearm, TAYLOR was convicted of drug and weapons felonies in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, which disqualifies him from possessing a firearm.

TAYLOR faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years on the felon in possession count and 10 years on the possession of stolen goods count.  Each count also carries up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

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, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.