Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On May 11, 2023, MELVIN WALKER, age 34, a resident of Marrero, Louisiana, pled guilty to a one-count indictment, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

WALKER faces a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release of up to 3 years, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.

According to court records, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested WALKER after he discharged a nine-millimeter firearm at the occupant(s) of a white SUV during a drive by shooting. Prior to WALKER discharging the firearm, the occupant(s) of the white SUV fired a .223 caliber firearm at WALKER as he stood outside of his residence. During a search of WALKER’s residence, a nine-millimeter magazine, loaded with nine-millimeter caliber ammunition, was recovered from WALKER’s residence. WALKER is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.

The Honorable Jay C. Zainey, United States District Judge, will sentence WALKER on August 15, 2023.

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 Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Public Integrity Unit.