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  NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MIKAL BLACK, age 23, of Ironton, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on November 23, 2021 to a single count of being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of the Federal Gun Control Act, Title 18 United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).

According to court documents, BLACK was previously convicted of manufacturing a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance. Being a felon, BLACK is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. He has now been convicted of possessing a firearm on August 11, 2020.

BLACK faces a maximum term of imprisonment of up to ten (10) years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter has set the sentencing hearing in the case for February 22, 2022.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Plaquemines Parish Sherriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter.  Assistant U. S. Attorney Charles D. Strauss is in charge of the prosecution.