Source: Office of United States Attorneys
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that JOAN E. ESCOBAR-REYES (“ESCOBAR-REYES”), age 26, a native of Honduras, was sentenced on February 20, 2025 by United States District Judge Susie Morgan. Judge Morgan sentenced ESCOBAR-REYES to thirty months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, and the payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5)(A).
According to court documents, on or about June 30, 2024, ESCOBAR-REYES, an alien illegally present in the United States, was found in possession of a Glock Model 32, .357 SIG caliber, semi-automatic pistol and a H&R Model 92, .22 LR caliber revolver.
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 U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations-New Orleans, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations and the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.