NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that MEKAILL HARRIS, age 20, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty Sept. 3, 2019 to a one count Superseding Bill of Information charging him with possession of a firearm in a federal facility.
On April 12, 2019, HARRIS was being investigated by investigators at the Veterans Affairs Hospital, located at 119 South Galvez, New Orleans, after investigators learned that HARRIS was engaged in a domestic dispute with his girlfriend, an employee at the V.A. Hospital. According to HARRIS’s girlfriend, she was concerned that HARRIS may return to the hospital in possession of a firearm. Responding investigators located HARRIS on the hospital’s campus. HARRIS fled from officers. While running, a silver 9-millimeter handgun dislodged from HARRIS’s person onto the ground. The weapon was recovered by V.A. investigators.
On Sept. 3, 2019, HARRIS was sentenced to credit for time served and placed on probation for a period of 1-year imprisonment by Magistrate Judge Michael B. North.
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 safe for everyone. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the law enforcement officers at the Veterans Affairs Hospital and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany L. Reed is in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
