U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans | U.S. Department of Justice
Joshua Williams, a 21-year-old resident of New Orleans, has pled guilty to the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The plea was entered on December 12, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown, as announced by U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
Court documents reveal that Williams engaged in marijuana sales within the New Orleans area and utilized Instagram accounts for this purpose. He frequently posted images and videos on Instagram displaying firearms, marijuana, and substantial amounts of cash.
Law enforcement officials traced a stolen GMC Sierra pickup truck to Williams's residence in New Orleans. During a search at his residence, officers recovered several items including a Glock Model 22 .40 caliber firearm reported as stolen, a Glock Model 19 nine-millimeter firearm, and approximately 75 grams of marijuana packaged for distribution. Both firearms were loaded with extended magazines.
Williams now faces significant legal consequences including a mandatory minimum sentence of five years to life imprisonment. Additional penalties may include up to three years of supervised release and fines reaching $250,000 along with a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and community members. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021, focusing on building community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alongside the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman from the General Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
