DEMOUNDE POLLARD, age 19, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced today by U. S. District Judge Helen G. Berrigan to serve thirty (30) months imprisonment for misprision of a felony, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Berrigan ordered that POLLARD be placed on one (1) year of supervised release and risks an additional term of imprisonment should he violate any terms of his supervised release.

POLLARD and JEROD FEDISON were indicated on charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice. FEDISON was additionally charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. These charges stemmed from a New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) traffic stop on a stolen vehicle. POLLARD, FEDISON, and CHRISTOPHER DORSEY were in the vehicle which, when searched, revealed three semi-automatic handguns. Shortly after the arrest, POLLARD, who did not have a prior felony conviction, told the police that the guns were his and that neither FEDISON nor DORSEY had any knowledge of the firearms.

During a follow-up investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (A.T.F.), agents learned that the guns actually were possessed by all three individuals. Agents also learned that DORSEY and FEDISON conspired to have POLLARD sign a false affidavit stating that the guns were his. POLLARD signed the affidavit in an effort to protect FEDISON AND DORSEY from being prosecuted for being felons in possession of a firearm, a more serious offense. Both FEDISON and DORSEY have several prior felony convictions and neither is legally allowed to possess a firearm.

FEDISON has previously pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and conspiracy to obstruct justice. FEDISON faces a maximum sentence of ten (10) years imprisonment for felon in possession of a firearm and a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years for obstruction of justice. FEDISON is scheduled to be sentenced on September 14, 2011.

DORSEY, who has three prior felony drug convictions from 1998 through 2003, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. His trial is scheduled for October 3, 2011.

U. S. Attorney Letten also stated that anyone who is caught obstructing or attempting to obstruct justice in this district will face significant sanctions. The criminal justice systems, both on the state and federal levels, simply cannot allow individuals to come forward and protect dangerous criminals.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (A.T.F.) and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr.

 

 

 

 

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