Louisiana Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Carjacking, Drug, and Weapons Violations, Faces up to Life in Prison

Louisiana – Tevis Stanton, 21, of Orleans Parish, Louisiana, was accused in a four-count indictment for carjacking, drug, and firearms offenses on October 13, 2022, according to U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. Count 1 of the indictment charges Stanton with a carjacking on March 22, 2022. Count 2 charges Stanton with using a firearm in the furtherance of a crime of violence. Stanton is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine in Count 3 of the indictment. Finally, Stanton is charged in Count 4 of the indictment with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

Stanton is charged with carjacking in Count 1 of the indictment, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119. (1). If convicted, Stanton faces a potential term of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100.00 obligatory special assessment charge. Stanton is charged in Count 2 with using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A) (ii). If convicted, Stanton faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years up to a maximum of life imprisonment, to be run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a fine of up to $250,000.00, a period of up to 5 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.

Stanton is charged in Count 3 of the indictment with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1) (C). If convicted, Stanton faces a potential penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, at least three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment charge of $100.00.

Finally, Stanton is charged in Count 4 with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A) (i). If convicted, Stanton faces a required minimum term of 5 years to life in prison, to be served concurrently with any other sentence imposed, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to 5 years supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment charge.

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.

U.S. Attorney Evans emphasized that the indictment is only a charge and that the defendant's guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department both investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime/Strike Force Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office.