A 29-Year-Old Louisiana Man Has Been Indicted For Arson and Possession of Destructive Devices and Faces Up to 25 Years in Prison and $260k in Fines
New Orleans, Louisiana – A 29-year-old man from Louisiana has been indicted for arson and possession of destructive devices, and he could face up to 25 years in prison and fines of up to $260,000.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans has announced the unsealing of a two-count indictment returned on May 5, 2023, that charged Ricky Wilson, age 29, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, for violation of the National Firearms Act.
Wilson is charged with arson in Count One, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(i)(1), and with possession of destructive devices, specifically incendiary devices popularly known as Molotov cocktails, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 5861. (d).
Wilson faces a minimum of 5 years in prison and a maximum of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release on Count One; on Count Two, he faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release. Each count is subject to a $100 special assessment cost.
U.S. Attorney Evans emphasized that the indictment is only a charge and that the defendant’s guilt must be established beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller of the Violent Crimes Unit.