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NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ORONDE GABRIEL, age 37 of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged on January 28, 2022 in a single count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury for violating Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).

According to court documents, GABRIEL was previously convicted in federal court for conspiracy to make false statements in the acquisition of a firearm. Being a felon, GABRIEL is prohibited from possessing a firearm. He is charged with having a Taurus model G2C, nine-millimeter handgun on September 27, 2021. If convicted of this offense, GABRIEL faces a maximum term of up to ten (10) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, 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 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.

The case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles D. Strauss.