Nola Reporter

A New Orleans man, Raymond Brown, has been sentenced to 37 months in prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long on October 1, 2024. Brown, aged 41 and a resident of Orleans Parish, will also face three years of supervised release and must pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

The incident leading to Brown's arrest occurred in April 2023 when the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) responded to reports of individuals with guns under the I-10 overpass. Officers observed Brown wearing a black sweatshirt and camouflage pants while holding a rifle. He fled the scene, discarding the firearm as he ran through a backyard on Touro Street before being apprehended.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched an enhanced strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021, focusing on building community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives along with the NOPD. Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich from the Violent Crime/Strike Force Unit prosecuted the case.