U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that KWAME FLEMING, age 27, of New Orleans, pled guilty to one count of accessory to murder through use of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(j), two counts of carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119, two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c), one count of Hobbs Act Robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951, and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c).
According to court documents, KWAME FLEMING pled guilty to assisting two individuals who committed a murder on June 1, 2015, in New Orleans, and attempting to hinder and prevent their apprehension, trial, and punishment.
Furthermore, KWAME FLEMING also pled guilty to taking part in two carjackings, during which firearms were brandished.
KWAME FLEMING also pled guilty to Hobbs Act robbery, during which KWAME FLEMING and his co-conspirators stole items from a residence in Mississippi, including marijuana and an assault rifle.
For the accessory to murder offense, KWAME FLEMING faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
For the carjackings, KWAME FLEMING faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
For the Hobbs Act robbery offense, KWAME FLEMING faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
KWAME FLEMING faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years imprisonment for the first of the brandishing offenses. For his second brandishing offense and the discharge offense, KWAME FLEMING faces mandatory minimum sentences of 25 years for each offense. The maximum penalty that would be imposed for each firearms offense is life imprisonment. Each firearms offense must be served consecutively. KWAME FLEMING also faces fines of up to $250,000, up to five years of supervised release upon release from imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment for each firearms count.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the New Orleans Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Baton Rouge Police Department, the Zachary Police Department, and the Wilkinson County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Shih and Trial Attorney Joseph K. Wheatley, of the Organized Crime and Gang Section of the Department of Justice, are in charge of the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
