46-Year-Old Louisiana Man Now Faces Up to Life in Prison After Pleading Guilty to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime

New Orleans, Louisiana - A 46-year-old Louisiana man now faces up to life in prison after pleading guilty to the crime of possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On April 5, 2023, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Damer Smith, age 46, of Raceland, Louisiana, pled guilty on April 4, 2023, to Count Three of the indictment, charging him with Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A) and 924(c)(1)(A)(i). In exchange, the government dismissed Counts 1 and 2, that charged him with Possession of a Firearm After a Domestic Violence Conviction, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(9) and 924(a)(2), and Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), respectively.

By pleading guilty to Count Three, the defendant faces a minimum of five years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, a term of supervised release of up to five years, and a fine of up to $250,000. A $100.00 special assessment charge is also required. The sentencing hearing in this case has been scheduled for July 1, 2023, by United States District Court Judge Greg G. Guidry.

According to court filings, authorities from the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office responded to Smith's residence on or about November 17, 2018, after he threatened to kill his minor children. As deputies arrived, Smith opened the door to his house and fired a gun into the yard.

Smith then surrendered, and deputies led the children out of the house. Deputies served search warrants at the home and discovered three weapons, ammo, and roughly 3,898 grams of packed marijuana.

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.

In this investigation, U.S. Attorney Evans applauded the work of the United States Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit.