Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – LIONEL HESTER (“HESTER”), age 25, and REGINALD JOHNSON (“JOHNSON”), age 42, both residents of New Orleans, were sentenced on November 7, 2024, by United States District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle for violating the Federal Gun Control Act and the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, the police targeted the 3900 Block of Ulloa Street in New Orleans due to numerous reports of drug dealing and firearms violations. Police saw JOHNSON engage in a hand-to-hand drug transaction and stopped the suspected buyer to confirm the drug purchase from JOHNSON. Before the police could arrest JOHNSON for distributing drugs, JOHNSON got into an SUV driven by HESTER. JOHNSON then escaped from the back of the SUV, leaving a backpack containing a gun and paperwork with his name. HESTER was later arrested. A search of the SUV uncovered crack cocaine, tramadol, marijuana and a Glock Model 31, .357 caliber pistol, by the driver’s seat. Both JOHNSON and HESTER had several prior felony convictions and were not allowed to possess firearms.
Judge Lemelle sentenced HESTER to 176 months imprisonment, followed by 6 years of supervised release and the payment of $200 in mandatory special assessment fees. JOHNSON was sentenced to 151 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years supervised release, and the payment of $200 in mandatory special assessment fees.
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.
The case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller, who is Senior Litigation Counsel at the U.S. Attorney’s Office.