24-Year-Old Louisiana Felon Faces Up to 30 Years in Prison After Pleading Guilty to Firearms Theft and Other Firearms Crimes

New Orleans, Louisiana – A 24-year-old Louisiana felon faces up to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to firearms theft and other firearms crimes.

On March 28, 2023, United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Laird Johnson, age 24, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on March 23, 2023, to a five-count indictment alleging violations of the Federal Gun Control Act, Title 18 United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1), 922(j), 922(u), 924(a)(2), and 924(i)(1).

Johnson was charged in Count 1 of the indictment with theft of a firearm from a Federal Firearms Licensee ("FFL"), Counts 2 through 4 charged him with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and Count 5 charged him with possession of a stolen firearm.
According to court filings, on June 19, 2021, Johnson unlawfully took and carried away a Glock Model 19X 9mm semi-automatic handgun from the premises of PDW Solutions, LLC, an FFL. On July 23, 2021, he was also in possession of a firearm. On August 10, 2021, three guns were seized during a search of his residence, including a Zastava Arms 7.62 Rifle, a Glock Model 19 9mm semi-automatic handgun, and the Glock Model 19X 9mm semi-automatic handgun was taken from PDW Solutions, LLC.
Johnson is barred from owning firearms because of previous convictions in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court for aggravated assault with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and simple burglary.

Each offense carries a potential term of ten years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment charge of $100.00.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve together to minimize violent crime and gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy to strengthen PSN on May 26, 2021, based on the following core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives looked into the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Strauss of the Violent Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.