Louisiana Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Two Violations of the Federal Gun Control Act

New Orleans, Louisiana – Renaldo Ruffin has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for two violations of the Federal Gun Control Act. Ruffin had previously admitted to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Judge Guidry imposed the maximum sentence of ten years in prison for each offense and ordered that Ruffin serve three years of supervised release following his jail term. Ruffin was also ordered to pay $200 in special assessment fees.

United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, that on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry sentenced Renaldo Ruffin, 30, of New Orleans, Louisiana, to ten years in federal prison for each of two violations of the Federal Gun Control Act.

Ruffin had previously pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(g) (1). According to court documents, Ruffin possessed a semiautomatic Glock Model 23,.40 S&W caliber handgun around August 30, 2020. In addition, Ruffin was in possession of 5.56 caliber ammunition on January 24, 2022.

Judge Guidry imposed the maximum statutory punishment of ten years in prison for each offense, to run concurrently, and ordered that Ruffin serve three years of supervised release following his jail term. In addition, Ruffin was ordered to pay $200 in special assessment fees.

This investigation is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve in an effort to minimize violent crime and gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department launched a strategy to reduce violent crime and 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 from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Louisiana State Police are investigating this crime. David Haller, Assistant United States Attorney, is in charge of the prosecution.