New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy, Carjacking, and Weapons Violations

Published 7:17 am Tuesday, February 28, 2023

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on Monday, February 27, 2023, TYRESE HARRIS, age 19, a resident of Orleans Parish, pled guilty to a five-count superseding indictment for conspiracy, carjacking, and weapons violations.  Count 1 charged HARRIS with conspiracy to commit carjackings beginning on  August 19, 2021 through February 1, 2022 in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371 .  Count 2 of the indictment charged HARRIS with a carjacking that occurred on August 19, 2021, on  Washington Avenue in New Orleans.in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119(1).   Count 3 charged HARRIS with using a firearm in furtherance of the carjacking, a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A)(ii) and 2  In Count 4 of the indictment, HARRIS was  charged with an attempted carjacking on Howard Avenue on January 18, 2022 in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119(1).   Finally, in Count 5, HARRIS was charged with a carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury that occurred on February 1, 2022 on S. Carrollton Avenue in New Orleans, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2119(2) and 2.  HARRIS’ sentencing is set for May 30, 2023.

If convicted of Count 1 , HARRIS  faces a maximum sentence of 5 years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a period of up to 3 years of supervised release. If convicted of these Counts 2 and 4, HARRIS faces a maximum sentence of 15 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00,and a period of up to 3 years of supervised release. .    If convicted of Count 3, HARRIS 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, and a period of up to 5 years of supervised release.   If convicted of Count 5, HARRIS faces a sentence of a maximum 25 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a period of up to 3 years of supervised release. As to each count of the superseding indictment , HARRIS also faces payment of  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.

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.