Louisiana Felon Pleads Guilty to Multiple Firearms and Drug Trafficking Offenses, Faces up to Life in Prison

Louisiana – On November 10, 2022, United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Desean Christy, age 37, of New Orleans, Louisiana, has pleaded guilty to the remaining two counts of a three-count indictment for violations of the Federal Gun Control Act and Federal Controlled Substances Act. He had previously pleaded guilty to only Count 3 of the indictment. He was charged in Count 1 with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); in Count 2 with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and in Count 3 with being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).

Christy was previously convicted in Orleans Parish of illegally possessing heroin, cocaine, and attempted possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is not allowed to own a firearm because of his criminal record. He was apprehended with cocaine base ("crack") with the intent to distribute and was found to be in possession of a Glock 22,.40 caliber handgun as a felon and in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

For Count 1, Christy faces up to twenty years in prison, a $1,000,000.00 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. For Count 2, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. Any sentence issued for Count 2 must run concurrently with any other term of imprisonment. For Count 3, he faces up to ten (10) years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Christy must also pay a necessary special assessment fee of $100.00 per count.

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 Federal Bureau of Investigation looked into the situation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles D. Strauss is prosecuting the case.