Wardell Fletcher, 49, was sentenced on July 29, 2025, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentencing took place before United States District Judge Brandon S. Long after Fletcher had previously pleaded guilty to the charge. He received a prison term of fifteen years, which will be served consecutively with any pending state sentence. Upon release from imprisonment, Fletcher will also serve three years of supervised release and is required to pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Court documents show that on December 27, 2023, Fletcher possessed a Taurus Model 608 .357 Magnum caliber revolver and ammunition despite knowing he was prohibited from having firearms due to his status as a convicted felon. During an altercation at a Circle K gas station in New Orleans, he used the firearm to shoot a victim.
“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. 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.”
Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson acknowledged the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives along with the New Orleans Police Department in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell prosecuted the case as part of the Violent Crime Unit.
