A New Orleans man with a history of violent crime convictions admitted to once again crossing the law. Kyle Conerly, 32, has pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm, as documented in a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The incident that brought Conerly back to the justice system occurred on November 20, 2023, when New Orleans Police Department officers were keeping an eye on a residence in the Hollygrove neighborhood. Reports indicate Conerly tried to avoid arrest by throwing a loaded handgun over a fence, a move that swiftly led to his apprehension. Court documents state that due to his prior attempted second-degree murder and manslaughter convictions in Orleans Parish, he was prohibited to ever possess a firearm.
As part of the guilty plea, Conerly now faces a series of severe penalties. This could include up to 15 years in prison, a fine that may reach $250,000, up to three years supervised release after serving his time, and an additional mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
The conviction ties back to Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the comprehensive initiative aimed to curb violence in the community. The PSN program focuses on unifying local communities and law enforcement agencies to decisively and effectively make neighborhoods safer.
This case was the result of collaborative work by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The Assistant United States Attorney David Berman, part of the Violent Crime Unit, leads the prosecution, according to a report by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Conerly's sentencing is yet to be scheduled by U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance.
