Federal Grand Jury Indicts New Orleans Man for Federal Gun Offense
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on May 12, 2023, KEILEN HAWKINS, age 25, was charged in a one-count indictment being a felon in possession of a firearm.
In count 1, HAWKINS is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). If convicted of Count 1, HAWKINS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
