New Orleans resident Herbert Cooper, 28, has been sentenced to a decade behind bars after pleading guilty to multiple firearm and drug offenses. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Cooper's sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon on September 5. Following his 120-month imprisonment, Cooper will also be subject to five years of supervised release and must pay a $300 special assessment fee.
The charges stemmed from an incident on March 13, 2022, where New Orleans Police Department officers conducting video surveillance in the 300 block of North Gayoso Street witnessed a suspected drug transaction involving Cooper. Fleeing from approaching NOPD officers, Cooper is reported to have discarded a Glock Model 23 semi-automatic handgun, equipped with an extended magazine. During the pursuit of Cooper, law enforcement officials recovered a significant amount of cash and a collection of drugs and paraphernalia from his person and vehicle.
As stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Cooper's conviction includes one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and two firearm-related charges. These allegations are bolstered by Cooper’s prior felony convictions in both St. Tammany and Orleans Parish, which bar him from firearm possession. The severity of the sentence reflects his repeat offender status, in addition to the nature of the crimes committed.
The investigation that led to Cooper's sentencing is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a national initiative that aims to decrease violent crime and gun-related violence. This strategy emphasizes community engagement alongside targeted and strategic enforcement, a point emphasized in a statement from the Department, which also notes the importance of fostering trust and legitimacy in community relations to help mitigate violence before it occurs.
This case was brought to a conclusion through the combined efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department, with prosecution by Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell of the Violent Crime Unit.
