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NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that LAIRD JOHNSON, age 23, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged on December 17, 2021 with theft of a firearm from a federal firearms licensee in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(u) and 924(i)(1), possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2), and possession of a stolen firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(j) and 924(a)(2).

According to court documents, JOHNSON stole a Glock Model 19X, nine-millimeter handgun from a federal firearms licensee on June 19, 2021. JOHNSON is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his prior felony convictions in Orleans Parish for aggravated assault with a firearm, simple burglary, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is charged with possessing a .45 caliber handgun and .45 caliber ammunition on July 23, 2021. JOHNSON is further accused of possessing the stolen Glock Model 19X, the Glock Model 19, and a Zastava Arms, 7.62 rifle on August 10, 2021.

For each of the five counts, JOHNSON faces a maximum term of ten years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

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 New Orleans Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles D. Strauss is in charge of the prosecution.