New Orleans Man Sentenced for Federal Gun and Drug Charges

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that KENZIE FAULK, age 58, of New Orleans, was sentenced on June 14 by United States District Court Judge Nannette Jolivette-Brown to credit for time served, for violating federal gun and drug laws.  The United States Attorney’s Office charged KENZIE FAULK with possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon and conspiracy to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute. 

According to court documents, on October 16, 2016, FAULK, a convicted felon, attempted to board a Southwest Airlines flight, departing from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, while he was in possession of a fully loaded revolver.  TSA personnel located the weapon in a bag that FAULK was attempting to carry aboard the plane, which was destined to Los Angeles.  TSA personnel became aware that a gun was inside of the bag when the TSA x-ray scan machine alerted to its presence. TSA agents confiscated the gun prior to FAULK boarding the plane.

In the days following his arrest, members of the FBI learned that FAULK was trafficking marijuana though the U.S. postal service.  FBI agents conducted a search of FAULK’s residence and located a wooden crate that had been shipped from Los Angeles to New Orleans.  After executing a search warrant, FBI agents located and confiscated three cellophane wrapped packages of high-grade marijuana inside of the crate, which was addressed to FAULK.

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 safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions has 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, 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 launched in 2001.

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the TSA in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany L. Reed is in charge of the prosecution.