Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that JAMES BLOCKER (“JAMES BLOCKER”), a California resident, pled guilty on June 12, 2025, to the indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen goods, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371 (Count 1), and interstate transportation of stolen goods, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2314 (Count 2).
According to the indictment, JAMES BLOCKER, and others, conspired to transport cigarettes that were stolen during a burglary at the Imperial Trading Company in New Orleans on November 21, 2024. The group then traveled out of state, before being apprehended in Fort Stockton, Texas the following day while in possession of the cigarettes. The group was further implicated in similar burglaries in North Carolina and Texas in February of 2024.
For Count 1, JAMES BLOCKER faces up to 10 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. As to Count 2, JAMES BLOCKER faces up to 10 years of imprisonment, up to 3 years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; the Jefferson Parish Sherriff’s Office, the Knightdale Police Department, the Atlanta Police Department, the Rockmart Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Fort Stockton Police Department, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.