Steve Banks, age 50, of New Orleans, pled guilty on April 22 before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act and the Federal Gun Control Act, U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced on Apr. 27.
The case highlights ongoing law enforcement efforts to address drug trafficking and firearm offenses in Southeast Louisiana. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana enhances community safety through law enforcement efforts, according to the official website.
According to court documents, law enforcement searched Banks’s apartment on October 21, 2024 and seized over 1,200 grams of crack cocaine, items used for manufacturing and weighing crack cocaine, more than $12,000 in cash, three loaded guns—including a stolen Glock pistol—and ammunition along with identifying information for Banks. He pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
For these charges, Banks faces penalties including at least ten years up to life imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; up to fifteen years imprisonment as a felon in possession of a firearm; and at least five years up to life imprisonment for possessing firearms during a drug trafficking crime—which must run consecutively—along with substantial fines and supervised release terms.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice aiming at eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators by leveraging resources from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana operates under the U.S. Department of Justice according to its official website. The office enforces federal laws and prosecutes criminal cases according to its official website, covering Southeast Louisiana according to its official website. The U.S. Attorney is appointed by the President with Senate approval according to its official website and serves as chief federal law enforcement officer for this district according to its official website. In addition, the office prosecutes criminal cases, defends civil matters involving federal interests or employees, handles debt collection for the government—enforcing laws that protect residents throughout Southeast Louisiana—all under presidential appointment according to its official website.
