Louisiana Felon Faces up to 20 Years in Prison After Pleading Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm Offenses

Louisiana – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on May 19, 2022, Anthony Pittman, age 33 of Metairie, Louisiana, pleaded guilty as charged to a three-count indictment. Count 1 charged the defendant with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); Count 2 charged him with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and Count 3 charged him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).

Pittman was previously convicted of drug trafficking, as well as other felony firearm and drug offenses in Jefferson Parish, according to court documents. Because of these convictions, he is not permitted to possess a firearm. He is now convicted of multiple firearms possession and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base (“crack”), and heroin. On October 4, 2020, he was apprehended after a high-speed chase during an attempted traffic stop in Westwego, Louisiana. The drugs were discovered in two camouflage bags that officers discovered inside the car but were thrown on the side of the road as the defendant attempted to flee. Additional evidence consistent with drug trafficking was discovered in the vehicle’s center console.

Pittman faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, a minimum of three years of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee for Count 1 of the indictment. For Count 2, he faces a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to five years of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee. For Count 3, he faces up to ten years in prison, a $250,000.00 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, which is at the heart of the Department of Justice’s efforts to reduce violent crime. PSN is an evidence-based program that has been shown to reduce violent crime. PSN brings together a diverse range of stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime issues in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and collaborates with community-based prevention and reentry programs to achieve long-term crime reductions.

The Westwego Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. The prosecution is led by Assistant United States Attorney Charles D. Strauss.

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