A New Orleans man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for illegal firearm possession. On Thursday last week, U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe sentenced 30-year-old Brian Ward, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of Louisiana.
Ward's conviction followed an incident on January 7, 2024, when he was arrested after a physical altercation on Bourbon Street. The U.S. Attorney's Office reported that Ward, a convicted felon, drew a .40 caliber pistol and fired a shot during the confrontation.
Law enforcement recovered the Taurus Model PT140 G2 .40 caliber pistol Ward used, which he had hidden near a van after the altercation. A spent .40-caliber shell casing found at the scene was matched to the recovered firearm, further linking Ward to the incident.
This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, which is focused on reducing violent crime. Relaunched in 2021, PSN aims to build community trust, support violence prevention organizations, prioritize law enforcement efforts, and measure safety improvements. U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the cooperation between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department in addressing illegal gun possession and violent crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the General Crimes Unit led the prosecution.
