New Orleans Man Indicted After Violating Federal Firearms Laws

U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite announced that JOSHUA JOHNSON, age 35, of New Orleans, was charged today in a one-count Indictment alleging violations of federal firearms laws.

JOHNSON was arrested by personnel of the New Orleans Police Department on July 9, 2015, and charged by the state for illegally carrying a weapon and possession of a firearm or weapon by a felon.  At the time of his arrest, JOHNSON was under supervised release for a 2009 federal conviction for violations of federal narcotics laws.

The U.S. Attorney’s office adopted the case and a federal grand jury has returned an indictment against JOHNSON charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

If convicted of the gun offense, JOHNSON faces at least ten years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Polite reiterated that the Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S Attorney Polite praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance of the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Privitera is responsible for the prosecution.