New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty for Violation of The Federal Gun Control Act

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RONNIE DAVIS, a resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on January 31, 2023 to being a felon in possession of a firearm before United States District Judge Susie Morgan.

According to public records, on May 4, 2022, the New Orleans Police Department (“NOPD”) was attempting to ascertain the location of a gray colored Nissan Kicks SUV vehicle. On that day,  NOPD detectives utilizing the NOPD Real Time Crime Camera (“RTCC”) near Monroe Street and Belfast Street in New Orleans, observed DAVIS driving the vehicle.

NOPD uniformed officers positioned their fully marked NOPD vehicles behind the Nissan Kicks and activated their  lights and sirens.  DAVIS stopped  his vehicle in the 8700 block of Belfast Street. Officers subsequently observed a black and tan semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine on the driver’s side floorboard, and a “Draco” style rifle on the front passenger’s side floorboard.  

On June 23, 2016, DAVIS plead guilty in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, under case number 527-901, to illegal carrying of a weapon with a controlled dangerous substance, in violation of LA-RS 14:95(E), possession of cocaine, in violation of LA-RS 40:967(C), possession of heroin, in violation of LA-RS 40:966(C), and possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of LA-RS 40:966(A)(2).

DAVIS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of up to $250,000.00,  up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police and the New Orleans Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit.

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