Duane A. Evans, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana
Dwine Hardy, a 32-year-old resident of New Orleans, has been sentenced to 70 months in prison following his guilty plea to federal gun and drug charges. United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey handed down the sentence on January 7, 2025. Hardy faced three counts from a four-count indictment: being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of a machine gun, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride.
Each count will be served concurrently. In addition to the prison term, Hardy is subject to three years of supervised release post-incarceration and must pay a $300 mandatory special assessment fee.
The charges stem from an incident where Kenner police officers stopped Hardy in a stolen vehicle. A search revealed illegal narcotics, drug paraphernalia, two Apple iPhones, ammunition, and a stolen Glock Model 23 .40-caliber pistol equipped with a machine gun conversion device and an extended magazine.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence by fostering trust within communities and supporting preventive measures against violence. The initiative emphasizes strategic enforcement priorities and results measurement.
U.S. Attorney Evans commended the efforts of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives alongside the Kenner Police Department for their work on this case. Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell prosecuted it under the Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.