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New Orleans Man Indicted on Federal Firearm Charges

Gerald Franklin, 35, faces two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 25, 2026, 12:32 p.m. ET
On August 25, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana announced that Gerald Franklin, 35, of New Orleans, had been in a two-count indictment for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment, filed on August 21, 2026, alleges that on or about March 30, 2026, and April 5, 2026, in the Eastern District of Louisiana, Franklin, knowing he had prior convictions punishable by more than one year in prison, was found in possession of a firearm after being arrested in connection with a French Quarter shooting on March 30, 2026. Franklin faces up to fifteen years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment of $100. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime Unit. U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. As with all charges, Franklin is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Department of Justice's initiative to combat violent crime. This matter is at the charging stage and has not been resolved; the charges are allegations and Franklin has not been convicted.

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  1. Version 125 Aug 2026, 16:32current

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