Xavier Johnson, 24, has pleaded guilty to carjacking and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. The plea was entered on July 22, 2025, and relates to an incident that occurred on January 20, 2020.
Johnson faces up to 25 years in prison for the carjacking charge and up to ten years for the firearm charge. Both charges also carry fines of up to $250,000 each and supervised release periods of up to three years. Sentencing is scheduled for October 14, 2025.
The charges stem from an armed robbery and shooting reported at a residence on Laharpe Street in New Orleans. According to police reports, the victim was exiting his vehicle when two masked individuals approached with firearms and ordered him and his girlfriend out of the car. The victim exchanged gunfire with the suspects after hearing a shot fired. Johnson was identified as the perpetrator who shot the victim before fleeing.
Officers later learned that Johnson had arrived at University Medical Center seeking treatment for gunshot wounds sustained during the incident. Police seized his property at the hospital and conducted a gunshot residue test, which returned positive results. Johnson was arrested by New Orleans Police Department officers after surgery and transported to Orleans Justice Complex.
“This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone,” stated Simpson. “On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives collaborated with New Orleans Police Department in investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Dawkins is prosecuting.
