Kody Severin, a 28-year-old resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on December 11, 2025, to all charges in an eight-count indictment. The charges include possession with intent to distribute marijuana, multiple firearms offenses—including possession of over 100 machine gun conversion devices—and attempted obstruction of justice. Sentencing is scheduled for March 26, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe.
According to court documents, law enforcement searched an apartment on Milan Street on December 12, 2022. Officers found several firearms—including pistols and a “ghost gun”—as well as more than one hundred machine gun conversion devices such as drop-in auto sears and “Glock switches.” Authorities also recovered bags containing suspected marijuana totaling over 400 grams, completed and incomplete silencers, two explosive devices, ammunition, extended magazines, mail belonging to Severin, clothing, and cellphones.
The following day officers encountered Severin at the same apartment. After seeing him throw a revolver from a balcony, police took him into custody without further incident. Law enforcement confirmed that Severin had previously been convicted of felony methamphetamine possession in Jefferson Parish in February 2019.
Severin faces significant penalties for each count: up to five years imprisonment for drug distribution; a minimum consecutive sentence of five years up to life for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking; up to fifteen years for being a felon in possession of firearms; ten years each for possessing machine guns or unregistered firearms; twenty years for attempted obstruction of justice; and ten years for receiving explosive materials.
Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department for their work on the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Duane A. Evans and Lynn E. Schiffman are prosecuting.
“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,” said 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.”
