A Westwego man has entered a guilty plea to multiple charges including drug distribution and illegal firearm possession. Donald Green, 35, admitted to his crimes before U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan on September 17, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Green is facing a potential imprisonment of 5 to 40 years for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, a maximum of 20 years for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and up to 15 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Along with these imprisonments, the Westwego resident could be fined up to $6,250,000 across the charges, with each carrying a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. His sentencing has been designated for December 17, 2024. According to the same statement from the U.S. Attorney's office, on June 13, 2023, Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office deputies and ATF agents observed Green distributing cocaine. When approached by law enforcement, Green evaded but was subsequently found in a local apartment hiding along with his arsenal.
The cache of illegal arms included a Ruger Model P-94 .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a High Standard .22 Caliber revolver, and a Norinco Model SKS 7.26 caliber rifle. The pistol was found with a round in the chamber. These discoveries highlighted a joint effort their efforts are aimed at disrupting criminal activity, particularly those involving narcotics and firearms, in hopes of fostering safer communities, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Project Safe Neighborhoods, an initiative designed to cut down violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and the communities they protect, encompasses cases like these. The Department of Justice reinforced Project Safe Neighborhoods on May 26, 2021, with strategies focused on building trust in communities, backing organizations that work to prevent crime before it occurs, setting precise enforcement priorities, and closely monitoring outcomes. The joint investigation by the ATF and Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office that led to Green's arrest is part of this broader crime reduction strategy.
The prosecution is currently handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller of the Narcotics Unit, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office release. The case against Donald Green illustrates another step in the ongoing battle against drug distribution networks and illegal firearm possession, which remains a focus of federal and local law enforcement agencies.
