Duane A. Evans, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans has announced the sentencing of Shi Gang Zheng, a 55-year-old Chinese national residing in New Orleans. On January 16, 2025, United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe sentenced Zheng to 27 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Zheng was also ordered to pay a $300 mandatory special assessment fee.
Zheng had previously pleaded guilty to making false statements under oath during a bankruptcy proceeding, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. Court documents reveal that Zheng illegally entered the United States in 1991 and remained despite an order for his removal, as China declined to facilitate it.
In July 2018, Zheng filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy but falsely claimed not to own firearms or significant assets. The U.S. Trustee later discovered fraudulent documents and unreported assets, including firearms that Zheng admitted owning despite his prohibited status due to immigration issues.
In September 2023, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office members observed Zheng involved in a drug transaction. Searches conducted afterward uncovered approximately 51 kilograms of marijuana and a firearm from his vehicle and residence.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The Department launched a strategy on May 26, 2021, focusing on trust-building, community support, strategic enforcement priorities, and results measurement.
The investigation was carried out by the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracey N. Knight, Chief of the Criminal Division.
