A Jefferson Parish man has been sentenced to 88 months in prison for a series of drug and gun crimes, including possession and distribution of controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. James Wallace, 25, received his sentence on Wednesday from U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office release, Wallace's sentence will be followed by five years of supervised release, and he is also required to pay a $600 special assessment fee.
On June 22, 2021, while surveilling a known drug trafficking area in Metairie, detectives spotted Wallace carrying a modified Glock Model 17 with a micro conversion kit, an illegal setup due to his prior state drug trafficking conviction. Further encounters with law enforcement included a car chase with Louisiana State Police, during which Wallace discarded controlled substances, along with additional evidence of his continued criminal activities despite the arrests of several associates.
Wallace's legal troubles intensified with the involvement of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). He was spotted again in the same area known for illicit activity, armed and allegedly conducting drug sales. In January 2022, ATF special agents gathered enough evidence of his criminal activities, including a cocaine base sale to a confidential informant on January 25, solidifying his involvement in the drug trade. His conviction is part of a broader effort by the ATF and Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office to collaborate under Project Safe Neighborhoods, which focuses on building trust in communities and supporting preventive measures along with strategic enforcement.
Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit led the prosecution.
