Felon Indicted for Shooting During Drug Trafficking Offense

Published 6:39 am Tuesday, February 1, 2022

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NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DANTE FRAZIER, age 42, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged on January 28, 2022 in a three-count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury for violations of the Federal Gun Control Act and Federal Controlled Substances Act. Specifically, he is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2); discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(iii); and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 841(b)(1)(C).

According to court documents, FRAZIER was previously convicted of drug trafficking in St. Bernard Parish and armed robbery in Orleans Parish. Due to his criminal history, he is prohibited from having a firearm. He is now charged with possessing a Mossberg International model 715P, .22 caliber handgun and discharging it in furtherance of narcotics violations on November 6, 2021. He is further alleged to have possessed with the intent to distribute fifty (50) grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, as well as fentanyl and cocaine base or “crack.”

If convicted of possession with intent to distribute the methamphetamine, FRAZIER faces a minimum of five (5) years and a maximum of up to forty (40) years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000.00 fine, at least four (4) years of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee. If convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base or fentanyl, he faces a maximum of up to twenty (20) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, at least three (3) years of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee. If convicted of discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, he faces a minimum of ten (10) years and up to a maximum of up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to five (5) years of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee. If convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, he faces a maximum of up to ten (10) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory 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.

The case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles D. Strauss.