A New Orleans man has recently entered a guilty plea to federal weapons charges. Leo Tate, aged 31, admitted to being in possession of a firearm despite having a criminal history that forbids such possession, a clear violation of the Federal Gun Control Act. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo on Wednesday, as announced in a statement from U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office release, court records show that in April, FBI agents stopped a vehicle with Tate, a known felon wanted on a warrant, and another person targeted for a federal DNA swab. Both men tried to flee but were caught after abandoning the vehicle. A search found a Glock pistol with an extended magazine and a round in the chamber, which Tate admitted was his. He also confessed to knowing he was not allowed to possess a firearm due to numerous prior felony convictions.
Tate now faces a substantial term of incarceration, with potential penalties including up to fifteen years behind bars, as much as three years supervised release, a fine that could reach $250,000, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. Judge Milazzo scheduled the sentencing for January 30 next year. This case forms a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a collaborative initiative to decrease violent crime and gun violence, aiming to heighten safety in communities across all levels of law enforcement and public collaboration.
The Department of Justice reiterated its commitment to PSN on May 26, 2021, enhancing the program with strategies intended to not only foster trust within communities but also to support organizations that work preventatively against violence.
The case against Tate was investigated jointly by the FBI and the New Orleans Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller, who also serves as Senior Litigation Counsel and PSN Coordinator.
