Jarren Lee, 36, of New Orleans, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for illegal firearm possession. The U.S. Attorney's Office confirmed that the sentencing took place on Tuesday, with Lee found guilty under the Federal Gun Control Act. U.S. District Judge Darrel J. Papillion also ordered three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment fee.
Lee, who has several prior convictions, including for drug possession, was arrested by New Orleans Police after being caught driving a stolen vehicle. During the arrest, officers found two firearms— a Century Arms Inc. Model TP9 and a Taurus Model Millennium G2, both 9mm semi-automatic handguns with high-capacity magazines. One of the guns was also reported stolen. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence through coordinated law enforcement efforts, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The Project Safe Neighborhoods framework, revitalized on May 26, 2021, focuses on four key areas: building trust and legitimacy in communities, supporting organizations that prevent violence, targeting enforcement efforts strategically, and evaluating outcomes. Lee's case, part of this initiative, was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Haller led the prosecution, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
