Louisiana Felon Faces Up to Life in Prison After Pleading Guilty to Gun and Drug Charges

New Orleans, Louisiana – Jacob Banks, age 32, of New Orleans, Louisiana pleaded guilty on October 5, 2022, before United States District Judge Lance M. Africk to violating the Federal Gun Control Act and the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court documents, Banks possessed a Springfield Arms.45 caliber pistol after being convicted of many felony counts. Banks also guilty to possessing crack cocaine with the purpose to distribute it, as well as possessing the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activity.

Banks pled guilty to three charges. Following any period of imprisonment on the felon in possession of a firearm charge, Banks faces up to ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. On the drug charge, he faces an additional sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release.

Banks faces a required minimum sentence of at least five years up to life in prison, which must run concurrently with any other term of incarceration, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release on the second gun charge. Finally, Banks must pay a $100 special assessment fee for each count to which he pled guilty. The sentencing date has been set for January 11, 2023.

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 New Orleans Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney David Haller is in charge of the prosecution.