Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

NEW ORLEANS — U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Anthony Thomas, 49, of New Orleans, was charged on Dec. 21 in a one-count indictment.

According to the court documents, on or about Dec. 12, in the Eastern District of Louisiana, the defendant, Thomas, knowing he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, knowingly possessed a Smith & Wesson Model SW40V, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).

If convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Thomas faces a maximum of 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, not more than three years of supervised release and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.

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

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.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Protective Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Kennedy.

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