KENNETH JACKSON, 33, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on August 20, 2025, to violating the Federal Gun Control Act. The plea was entered before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo and announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
Court records state that in March 2024, the FBI used aerial surveillance at an apartment complex in New Orleans East as part of a murder investigation from the previous day. Agents identified a Toyota Camry with rear bumper damage believed to be involved in the incident. As agents watched, the car attempted to leave but was blocked by law enforcement. JACKSON and another male left the vehicle and fled on foot but were apprehended soon after. JACKSON was found carrying a .45 caliber pistol despite being a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms.
JACKSON was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm along with other defendants. Sentencing is scheduled for January 30, 2026. He faces up to fifteen years in prison, up to three years supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which coordinates law enforcement efforts and community engagement to address violent crime and gun violence nationwide. The Department of Justice strengthened PSN’s violent crime reduction strategy beginning May 26, 2021 by focusing on building trust within communities, supporting local organizations dedicated to violence prevention, prioritizing strategic enforcement actions, and tracking results through measurable outcomes (https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-launches-violent-crime-reduction-strategy-strengthen-project-safe).
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson commended “the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the New Orleans District Attorney’s Office.” Assistant United States Attorneys Liz Privitera and Sarah Dawkins are prosecuting the case as part of the Violent Crime Unit.
