New Orleans Man Sentenced for Federal Gun Control and Controlled Substances Act Violations

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - TRAVIS JACKSON ("JACKSON"), age 34, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on November 12, 2024, by United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion, for conspiring to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, fentanyl and, being a felon in possession of a gun, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court records, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made several controlled purchases of drugs from JACKSON and his co-defendant. The FBI then conducted wire intercepts of two phones belonging to the co-defendant. During the wiretaps, the FBI heard multiple calls related to drug trafficking, including calls with buyers and larger-scale dealers, as well as calls warning other dealers of police activity. The FBI later executed search warrants, arresting the co-defendant with a gun and fentanyl and, also, arresting JACKSON with a gun. JACKSON's prior felony convictions prohibited him from possessing a firearm.

Judge Papillion sentenced JACKSON to 60 months imprisonment on each count to run concurrently, 4 years of supervised release on the drug count and 3 years of supervised release on the felon in possession of a firearm count, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $200.

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.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller, Senior Litigation Counsel and PSN Coordinator.