A New Orleans man, 24-year-old Xavier Johnson, has pled guilty to charges related to a violent carjacking incident and a federal firearm offense, the Department of Justice reported. Johnson's admission to the crimes includes one count of carjacking and another for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The announcement was made public yesterday by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
The indictment detailed that Johnson, who was implicated in a January 20, 2020, armed robbery and shooting, could face up to 25 years in prison for the carjacking charge, along with a potential fine of up to $250,000. The felon firearm possession count could add up to a further ten years and identical fine, with both counts also carrying the possibility of three years of supervised release and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 each. His sentencing is scheduled for October 14, 2025.
According to the original case report, the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers were dispatched to a report of an armed robbery and shooting at the 1400 block of Laharpe Street. There, they discovered the victim with a gunshot wound to his leg. He recounted how he and his girlfriend were forced out of their vehicle by two masked gunmen, result in an exchange of gunfire where Johnson allegedly shot the victim, and a presumption that the victim had shot Johnson.
Subsequently, officers were alerted to Johnson seeking treatment for gunshot wounds at University Medical Center. He was identified as a suspect after a positive gunshot residue test and an investigation that involved not just NOPD, but also the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods — an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through community and law enforcement collaboration. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Dawkins is leading the prosecution efforts.
