Kyle Conerly, age 33, was sentenced on March 25 by U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to an April 3 announcement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Conerly's sentencing highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address violent crime and illegal firearm possession in New Orleans. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a national initiative that aims to use federal resources against illegal immigration, criminal organizations, and violent offenders.
Court documents state that on November 20, 2023, officers from the New Orleans Police Department were conducting surveillance at a residence in the Holly Grove neighborhood when they moved in to make arrests. During this operation, Conerly ran into the backyard and threw a loaded handgun over a fence. He was prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous convictions for attempted second degree murder and manslaughter in Orleans Parish.
Operation Take Back America combines resources from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) programs. The initiative seeks to eliminate criminal organizations and reduce violent crime across communities.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman handled the prosecution.
