A 28-year-old man from Orleans Parish, Elijah Martin, has been sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for violating the Federal Gun Control Act. The sentencing was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson and took place on December 4, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown.
Martin had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon under 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). According to court records, he was found with firearms on two separate occasions while prohibited from doing so due to his prior felony convictions.
On December 16, 2023, an officer from the East Jefferson Parish Levee Police Department discovered Martin in possession of a Smith & Wesson Model M&P Shield nine-millimeter pistol during a traffic stop. On January 25, 2024, officers from the New Orleans Police Department again found Martin carrying a Glock Model 26 nine-millimeter pistol.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the East Jefferson Parish Levee Police Department, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Sarver of the Narcotics Unit prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The program emphasizes building trust within communities, supporting organizations focused on preventing violence, prioritizing targeted enforcement strategies, and tracking outcomes. More information about Project Safe Neighborhoods can be found at Justice.gov/PSN.
