Ricky Wilson, a 31-year-old resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on March 19 to five years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to commit arson, according to U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Wilson will also serve three years of supervised release and must pay full restitution to the victims as well as a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Brandon S. Long.
Court documents show that Wilson purchased a vehicle from a dealership and later placed three live Molotov cocktails next to vehicles on the dealership’s lot, causing damage. He also fired several shots into other vehicles and at the dealership’s offices. No injuries were reported during these incidents.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, an initiative that brings together law enforcement agencies and communities with the goal of reducing violent crime and gun violence. The Department launched an updated violent crime reduction strategy for this program on May 26, 2021, focusing on fostering trust within communities, supporting organizations that prevent violence, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Former Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller prosecuted the case.
