A Marrero man has been sentenced for possession of a modified machine gun, drawing a 24-month prison term followed by three years of supervised release. Joseph P. Schwartz, IV, 21, was convicted following a February 25, 2022 incident during the bustling Mardi Gras festivities on Bourbon Street.
Law enforcement's alert presence was to swiftly act when an altercation pulled their attention to Schwartz who was seen with a concealed firearm. Despite orders from Louisiana State Police troopers, Schwartz attempted to escape into the crowd with the gun, eventually discarding it in a trash can before being arrested. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the seized Glock Model 23 was altered with an auto-sear, allowing it to fire automatically.
This case reflects the ongoing commitment to Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence through cooperation between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Following the principles set in 2021 to enhance the program, efforts continue to foster trust, support preemptive community actions, focus on strategic enforcement, and evaluate the outcomes to ensure neighborhood safety.
