David Scott was sentenced on April 23 to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, according to a May 4 announcement by U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to address violent crime and illegal drug activity in New Orleans. Authorities say these actions are part of broader initiatives designed to protect communities from criminal activity.
According to the announcement, the New Orleans Police Department conducted surveillance at the East Side Cash and Carry gas station on August 3, 2023, following increased reports of crime at that location. Officers observed Scott wearing a black hoodie with a noticeable bulge in his waistband. When officers approached him as he sat in a vehicle, they saw a handgun with a drum magazine containing 23 live rounds on the driver’s side. After securing the weapon and arresting Scott, police found him carrying 15 packs of Tapentadol—totaling 148 pills—and $1,315 in cash.
The prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, which aims to use all available resources from the Department of Justice against illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations while protecting local communities from violent offenders. The initiative coordinates efforts through programs such as the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The investigation involved both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Dawkins from the Violent Crime Unit prosecuted this case.
