A Honduran national, Varion Rogelio Lobo-Barahona, has been sentenced after being found in illegal possession of a firearm, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. As stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Judge Brandon S. Long sentenced Lobo-Barahona to time served, coupled with three years of supervised release and the imposition of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
The incident in question occurred on November 23, 2023, when Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies intercepted a vehicle driven by Lobo-Barahona that lacked a visible license plate and was being operated recklessly and at an excessive speed, which was following a short pursuit the deputies successfully executed a traffic stop and then discovered a handgun in Lobo-Barahona's waistband. The weapon, identified as a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson Model SD40, which not only had been manufactured out of state but also reported stolen, marked a clear violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5)(A) for an individual previously deported and without authorization to re-enter the United States.
Further investigation revealed Lobo-Barahona's immigration history, with federal authorities confirming his status as a Honduran citizen who had not obtained re-entry permission following deportation on July 5, 2013. The participation of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency alongside local law enforcement highlighted a collaborative effort to address such illegal activities.
This case is a part of the larger framework of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is a multifaceted approach to reducing violent crime and gun violence through the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies and community organizations, aiming not just to react to crime but to prevent it, while the Department's violent crime reduction strategy, launched on May 26, 2021, continues to strengthen PSN by emphasizing trust, supporting violence prevention at the community level, and setting strategic enforcement priorities. U.S. Attorney Evans commended the work of both the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office for their roles in investigating the matter, with Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. leading the prosecution.
