U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Gernell Hankton, a 34-year-old resident of New Orleans, has been sentenced to 135 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance on January 8, 2025. Hankton faced charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm and making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.

Hankton received a sentence of 120 months for each count related to firearm possession, which will run concurrently. An additional consecutive sentence of 15 months was imposed for making a false statement during the purchase.

After serving his prison term, Hankton will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years and is required to pay a $300 mandatory special assessment fee.

Court records indicate that on July 20, 2019, Hankton was involved in an incident at a McDonald's drive-thru on Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans where he struck an occupied vehicle and later fired seven shots from a .40 caliber firearm at another vehicle after an altercation with its occupants.

On August 7, 2019, the New Orleans Police Department located Hankton's truck and found a Glock Model 23 pistol inside. Ballistic analysis confirmed it was used in the earlier shooting incident.

The following day, authorities were alerted about an attempted straw purchase involving Hankton's then-girlfriend at Gurvich Detective Agency. Despite her being listed as the purchaser on official forms, she admitted not buying the weapon when contacted by Gurvich employees. Hankton confessed to making false statements on federal forms to acquire the pistol illegally due to his status as a convicted felon.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aiming to reduce violent crime through community trust and strategic enforcement priorities.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives alongside the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed from the Public Integrity Unit is prosecuting this case.