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Louisiana Faces up to Life in Prison After Pleading Guilty to Firearm and Drug Charges in Connection with a Shootout at a Hotel

New Orleans, Louisiana – A Louisiana man has pleaded guilty to firearm and drug charges for his involvement in a shootout at the Jung Hotel on Canal Street in 2020. He faces up to life in prison for the crimes.

Malik Fernandez, 23, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty to various firearm and drug charges on January 24, 2023, according to U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. His guilty plea stems from his involvement in a shootout at the Jung Hotel on Canal Street on December 28, 2020.

A federal grand jury handed down two related indictments earlier this year, charging a total of nine individuals with various violations of the Federal Gun Control and Federal Controlled Substances Acts for their participation in this shootout. Fernandez entered a guilty plea to Counts 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the indictment on Monday, January 30, 2023. The indictments charged him with conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (Count 1); using, carrying and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime (Count 2); conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana (Count 3); and illegally maintaining a drug involved premises (Count 4).

Fernandez is scheduled to be sentenced on May 2, 2023. He will face the following sentences as a result of his guilty plea:

According to Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(o) and 3583, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000.00 fine for Count 1.

According to Title 18, United States Code, Section 924, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, no more than 5 years of supervised release, and a fine of no more than $250,000.00 for Count 2. (c). According to Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c), 2, and 3583, any prison sentence imposed in connection with this count must be served consecutively to any other prison sentence imposed in connection with this case.

According to Title 21, United States Code, Section 841 (b)(1)(D), he faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, up to two years of supervised release, and a fine of no more than $250,000.00 for Count 3.

In accordance with Title 18, United States Code, Section 3583, he faces a sentence of no more than 20 years in prison, a fine of no more than $500,000.00, and no more than three years of supervised release for Count 4.

Each count is also subject to a $100 special assessment fee.

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 reduce 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 New Orleans Police Department and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. The prosecution is led by Assistant United States Attorneys Maurice Landrieu and Elizabeth Privitera.

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