A Slidell man, age 38, has been sentenced to time served for illegally manufacturing and dealing explosive materials, U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan ruled yesterday, according to a statement released by U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. The man admitted to creating and distributing M-Type explosive devices to undercover agents without the necessary license.
These illicit activities came to light on February 6, when the defendant reportedly handed over explosive materials that he had no authority to sell or produce, the conviction is part of a broader push by Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to partner with local law enforcement and community organizations to curb violent crimes including gun violence; this initiative was revamped in 2021 to more effectively tackle such offenses, as per U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case against the Slidell man was pushed forward by the efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (A.T.F.) garnered praise from U.S. Attorney Evans for its role in the investigation, Troy Bell, an Assistant United States Attorney with the Violent Crimes Unit, spearheaded the prosecution.
