St. Charles Parish Man Charged with Firearm and Narcotics Violations
Published 7:21 am Tuesday, August 8, 2023
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NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the August 4, 2023 indictment charging BRANDON D. HILL, age 30, of Boutte, Louisiana, with violations of the Federal Gun Control and Federal Controlled Substances Acts.
The grand jury returned an indictment charging HILL with three counts. As to Count 1, possession of a firearm as a felon, HILL faces a maximum 15 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. As to Count 2, possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine hydrochloride, and cocaine base, HILL may receive up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. As to Count 3, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, HILL must be sentenced to at least 5 years in prison consecutive to any other sentence, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. Each count also requires a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
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 an indictment is merely an accusation and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) New Orleans Field Division, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the District Attorney’s Office for the 29th Judicial District for their assistance in this prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Payne, Senior Litigation Counsel, is in charge of the prosecution.