A New Orleans man has pleaded guilty to a federal firearms charge in connection with a 2022 shooting in the French Quarter. William Robinson, 40, entered his plea on August 26, 2025, before United States District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
According to court records, Robinson admitted guilt to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition under 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). The charge stemmed from an investigation by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), which identified Robinson and a co-defendant as suspects after a January 2022 shooting incident captured on surveillance video. NOPD determined that Robinson, who was seen wearing an LA Dodgers World Series jacket during the shooting, fired several nine-millimeter rounds at the scene.
In February 2022, police executed a search warrant at a residence linked to Robinson and his co-defendant. Officers recovered the same LA Dodgers jacket worn during the shooting as seen in the surveillance footage. Certified criminal records showed that Robinson was already a convicted felon when he possessed and fired the ammunition.
Judge Brown scheduled sentencing for December 4, 2025. Robinson could face up to ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and must pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together law enforcement agencies and community organizations to address violent crime and gun violence across communities nationwide. In May 2021, the Department strengthened its PSN strategy with goals including fostering trust within communities, supporting local groups working to prevent violence before it starts, focusing enforcement efforts strategically, and measuring program results (https://www.justice.gov/psn).
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson acknowledged the contributions of both the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and NOPD in this case’s investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Privitera and Maurice Landrieu prosecuted the matter.
