NEW ORLEANS MAN SENTENCED TO OVER 6 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR WEAPONS VIOLATION
GEORGE JEFFERSON, age 32, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced today in federal court by U. S. District Judge Helen G. Berrigan to over 6 years (80 months) in prison for illegally possessing a firearm in New Orleans, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Berrigan ordered that JEFFERSON be placed on three (3) years of supervised release following the term of imprisonment, during which time the defendant will be under federal supervision and risks an additional term of imprisonment should he violate any terms of his supervised release.
According to court documents, JEFFERSON was arrested on March 2, 2009 for possessing five firearms (an SKS 7.62x39 caliber rifle, a Mossburg 12 gauge shotgun, an Ishmash .410 caliber shotgun, a Taurus .44 caliber revolver, and a Bryco .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun) in the 1300 block of Lamanche St. in New Orleans. NOPD officers acquired a search warrant for JEFFERSON’s residence on Lamanche St. As officers approached the residence they observed JEFFERSON holding a bag of marijuana while sitting in his vehicle which was parked in the driveway. Officers arrested JEFFERSON for possession of marijuana and then searched the residence in accordance with the search warrant. Officers found the five firearms in various locations inside and under the residence. JEFFERSON is prohibited from possessing any firearms due to a felony conviction in 1998 in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court for distribution of cocaine.
The case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department along with agents from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rick Veters.
