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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on October 13, 2022, TEVIS STANTON, age 21, a resident of Orleans Parish, was charged in a four-count indictment for carjacking, drug, and weapons violations.  Count 1 of the indictment charges STANTON with a carjacking that occurred on March 22, 2022. Count 2 charges STANTON with using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.   Count 3 of the indictment charges STANTON  with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine.  Finally, Count 4 of the indictment charges STANTON with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

In Count 1 of the indictment, STANTON is charged with committing a carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119(1).  If convicted, STANTON faces a maximum sentence of 15 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, a period of up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.  In Count 2, STANTON is charged with using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(ii).  If convicted, STANTON faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years up to a maximum of life imprisonment, to be run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a fine of up to $250,000.00, a period of up to 5 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. In Count 3 of the indictment, STANTON is charged with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C).  If convicted, STANTON faces a sentence of a maximum 20 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, a period of at least 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. Finally in Count 4, STANTON is charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).  If convicted, STANTON faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years to life imprisonment, to be run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a fine of up to $250,000.00, a period of up to 5 years supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime/Strike Force Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.