Source: Office of United States Attorneys
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that SHI GANG ZHENG (“ZHENG”), age 55, a Chinese national residing in New Orleans, was sentenced on January 16, 2025, by United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe.
According to court documents, ZHENG was sentenced to 27 months of imprisonment, three (3) years of supervised release, and payment of a $300 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty, to making false statements under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding (18 U.S.C. § 152(2), possession with intent to distribute marijuana (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), and being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm (18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8)).
ZHENG is a Chinese national who illegally entered the United States in 1991. Although he was ordered removed, the government of China declined to facilitate his removal, causing him to remain in the United States illegally. In July 2018, ZHENG filed a petition for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in which he falsely stated that he did not own any firearms, significant jewelry, or other assets. Thereafter, the United States Trustee determined that numerous Chapter 7 bankruptcy documents submitted by ZHENG were fraudulent. Further, the Trustee located unreported assets, including numerous firearms. ZHENG admitted ownership of those firearms and learned he was prohibited to possess firearms due to his immigration status. In September 2023, members of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office saw ZHENG conduct a drug transaction. Subsequent searches of ZHENG’s vehicle, residence and his arrest yielded, in combination, approximately 51 kilograms of marijuana as well as a firearm, which was prohibited due to his immigration status.
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.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracey N. Knight, Chief of the Criminal Division.