Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that NAVORIOUS HILLS, age 41, of Hammond, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on December 14, 2021 to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).

According to court documents, HILLS was selling prescription pain pills within the Eastern District of Louisiana. On May 15, 2020, he was in possession of a Glock handgun during a drug transaction at the Manchac Public Boat Launch. HILLS and his customer began arguing after their transaction concluded. The conflict escalated and HILLS retrieved his Glock Model 43 semi-automatic handgun and shot the man in the chest. HILLS admitted to selling the prescription narcotics and that the purpose of carrying the firearm was in furtherance of drug trafficking.

HILLS faces a statutory minimum term of imprisonment of five (5) years up to a maximum term of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to five (5) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

The Honorable United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo has set sentencing for March 7, 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 work 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 Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles D. Strauss is in charge of the prosecution.