A New Orleans man, Xavion Watts, 22, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession of a machine gun after being apprehended back in 2022. Last Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk imposed the statutory maximum sentence of 120 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Documents from the court indicate that the incident occurred on October 29, 2022, when New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers on patrol in the French Quarter noticed a firearm in Watts's waistband as he walked down Bourbon Street, leading to a foot chase and his subsequent arrest. Watts was found to have a Glock Model 17, converted into a fully automatic weapon with a switch and extended magazine.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a collaborative effort to reduce violent crime and gun violence, aligning with the Department of Justice's strategy to build community trust, support violence prevention initiatives, focus on strategic enforcement priorities, and measure outcomes in the push to create safer neighborhoods. The collaboration between federal and local law enforcement was specifically applauded by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson, who highlighted the roles of the ATF and NOPD in apprehending Watts. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Miller was noted for his role in the prosecution.
