An Orleans Parish man has been sentenced to over five years in prison for his involvement in drug trafficking and for carrying a firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking offense. Devin Hilliard, 49, faced Judge Eldon E. Fallon last Wednesday, and received a sentence of sixty-six months of imprisonment, followed by a mandatory five-year supervised release period, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Caught in the act, Hilliard was apprehended while engaged in the illicit drug trade, a firearm accompanying his unlawful endeavors according to court documents. In accordance with the judgment reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Hilliard must also pay a special assessment fee of three hundred dollars.
The Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson acknowledged the instrumental role of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in uncovering the crimes that led to Hilliard’s conviction. Assistant United States Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II, attached to the Financial Crimes Unit, was the lead prosecutor for the case, as obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
This recent prosecution is a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, an initiative that aims to knit communities and law enforcement together to tackle violence and promote safety. Since a Department of Justice strategy enhancement on May 26, 2021, Project Safe Neighborhoods has placed a stronger emphasis on building community trust, supporting organizations working on violence prevention, and targeting enforcement priorities strategically, their joint efforts in reducing crime "praised" by Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
