On May 22, Rasheed Smith, a 34-year-old resident of Marrero, Louisiana, received a sentence of seventy months in prison for illegal possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Darrel James Papillion also mandated three years of supervised release and imposed a $100 special assessment fee after Smith's guilty plea. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Smith's sentencing is a result of a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
Smith's encounter with law enforcement occurred during a January 2023 traffic stop by Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office deputies. Attempting to escape, Smith abandoned his vehicle and was subsequently apprehended following a brief struggle. Delving into the vehicle, authorities discovered a firearm in the driver's side door compartment. Due to prior felony convictions, Smith was barred from the firearm possession.
This case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a collaborative initiative to curb violent crime and gun violence. The Department's strategy, reinforced since May 26, 2021, aims to foster trust in communities, support organizations in violence prevention efforts, prioritize enforcement strategies, and track outcomes. As detailed on the DOJ website, the PSN program strives for safeguarding neighborhoods through multi-agency partnerships.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, along with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, spearheaded the investigation leading to Smith's conviction. Assistant United States Attorney Greg Kennedy, of the Violent Crimes Unit, led the charge in prosecution.
