Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

NEW ORLEANS — Vincert Peters, 33, of Bogalusa, was sentenced on Jan. 3 to a total of 229 months in prison for federal firearm and drug violations.

On September 13, 2023, Peters pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance to Counts 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9 of an indictment pending against him. Count 1charged him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, for his participation in a May 16, 2020 mass shooting in Bogalusa. He also pled guilty to drug distribution charges and another firearm charge stemming from an investigation by the Bogalusa Police Department and the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office. Specifically, in Counts 3, 5 and 8, he was charged with distribution of heroin and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, U.S. Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). In Count 9, he was charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 924(c).

According to court documents, on May 16, 2020, an “Unauthorized Assembly” during Phase I of the COVID-19 Pandemic Re-Opening occurred. This assembly consisted of several hundred people, attending a “Celebration of Life,” event to honor a recent murder victim. During the celebration, a shootout took place between two groups. In total, 13 people were shot and four sustained serious injuries. 10 separate firearms were discharged during this shootout. Peters admitted possessing and firing a gun during this incident.

During a follow-up investigation, agents also learned that Peters was selling illegal drugs and were able to make several controlled drug purchases from him. A subsequent search of Peters' residence uncovered additional drugs and a firearm.

As a result of his crimes, Peters was sentenced to serve 120 months as to Count 1 (Felon in Possession of a Firearm); 169 months as to Counts 3, 5 and 8 (Distribution of Drugs); and 60 consecutive months as to Count 9 (possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime). He was also placed on supervised release for three years and ordered to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $500.

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 of Justice 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.

This case was investigated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bogalusa Police Department and the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr. of the Narcotics Unit.

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