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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, that TIJON RICHARDS, a/k/a “Tay,” age 31, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana was sentenced in the Eastern District of Louisiana for his conduct related to violations of the Federal Gun Control Act.  RICHARDS pled guilty to Counts Two and Three of the indictment, charging him, respectively with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A) and 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).

United States District Court Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced RICHARDS to 46 and 60 months, respectively as to Counts Two and Three.  Count Three will be served consecutive to Count Two.  Following his release, RICHARDS will be placed on supervised release for 5 years.  RICHARDS must also pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $200.00.

On September 16, 2020, RICHARDS fled from a  Louisiana State Police (“LSP”) trooper on Interstate 10 in Metairie, Louisiana, during a traffic stop.  During a search of RICHARDS vehicle, LSP located a loaded FN Herstal, 5.7×28 mm firearm and 2 grams of cocaine base under the driver’s seat where RICHARDS was seated.  RICHARDS made good on his escape, but was later arrested in January 2021.  While attempting to arrest RICHARDS at his New Orleans residence, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives observed that an air conditioning vent inside of the home appeared to be distorted.  Upon removing the vent, a high- capacity rifle magazine fell to the floor.  Agents observed two firearms inside of the unit.

While executing a search warrant at the residence, agents located four additional firearms and ammunition inside of the residence.  RICHARDS, a convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and  Louisiana State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime/Strike Force Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.