New Orleans Man Sentenced For Illegal Possession of a Firearm

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on March 25, 2025, CARESSES PERIQUE (“PERIQUE”), age 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter to 92 months imprisonment, after previously pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).  Following imprisonment, PERIQUE will be placed in supervised release for three (3) years.

According to court documents, on Sunday, November 27, 2022, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) personnel were monitoring the 2600 block of Monroe Street during the annual Lady Buck Jumpers second line at which time PERIQUE was observed in possession of a concealed firearm in his waistband.  When approached by officers, PERIQUE immediately put his hands inside his front waistband.  The officers gained control of his hands and removed a loaded black Ruger P95, nine-millimeter handgun, from his front waistband. The handgun had one live  round in the chamber and nine  live rounds in the magazine.  Officers subsequently learned that PERIQUE had several felony convictions which prohibited him from possessing a firearm.

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.