A New Orleans man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Wardell Fletcher, 49, received the sentence on July 29, 2025, from United States District Judge Brandon S. Long. The sentence will be served consecutively with any pending state sentence. Upon release from prison, Fletcher will also serve three years of supervised release and must pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Court documents state that on December 27, 2023, Fletcher was found in possession of a Taurus Model 608 .357 Magnum caliber revolver and ammunition. At the time, he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his status as a convicted felon. The documents further indicate that following an altercation at a Circle K gas station in New Orleans, Fletcher used the firearm to shoot a victim.
The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence by coordinating efforts among law enforcement agencies and community organizations. The Department of Justice strengthened this initiative in May 2021 by focusing on building trust within communities, supporting local organizations working to prevent violence, prioritizing strategic enforcement actions, and tracking results through measurable outcomes (https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-launches-new-effort-reduce-violent-crime).
Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson acknowledged the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the New Orleans Police Department in investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell prosecuted the matter as part of the Violent Crime Unit.
