A New Orleans man faces over two decades behind bars following a combination of federal drug and firearm offenses. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, 45-year-old Robert Ball was sentenced last Thursday, to 248 months in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to methamphetamine distribution and illegal firearms possession.
The sentencing handed down by U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan includes 188 months for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute, as well as an additional 60 months for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Alongside his prison term, Ball is required to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay a $300 special assessment fee, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Details of the case reveal an intricate drug operation that spanned from Ontario, California, to New Orleans. Law enforcement intercepted a package suspected to contain methamphetamine en route to New Orleans and identified Felipe Garcia as the individual who had sent two similar packages from California. The Drug Enforcement Agency later snagged the second package before it reached its intended destination in New Orleans, identifying Ball as the would-be receiver. A previous traffic stop by the Louisiana State Police resulted in Ball's arrest where methamphetamine and firearms were discovered in his possession, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
This conviction marks a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a collaborative initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. "This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence" according to the U.S. Attorney's Office press release, the Department of Justice relaunched a fortified version of PSN in 2021 with a focus on community trust, prevention, strategic enforcement, and measurable results. United States Attorney Duane A. Evans lauded the DEA, the Louisiana State Police, and the Ontario California Police Department for their work in bringing Ball to justice.
The case against Ball was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit, underlining the continued efforts to clamp down on drug trafficking and related criminal activities. The prosecution, not just points to the resolve of federal and local agencies to combat crime, but also serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of engaging in illicit drug distribution and related firearm offenses.
