David I. Courcelle

A 29-year-old Honduran national was indicted for illegally possessing a firearm in violation of U.S. federal law. The indictment, filed on May 28, 2026, charges Erlin Jovany Gamez Maldonado under Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8).

Oscar Paz-Mejia, a 33-year-old native of Honduras, was indicted for illegal reentry of a removed alien under Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). The indictment was announced by United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.

A 27-year-old Honduran citizen pled guilty to reentry of a removed alien under Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). His sentencing is scheduled for June 25, 2026.

Julio Valerio-Senteno, 40, was sentenced to time served for illegally re-entering the United States after pleading guilty to a charge under Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). The court also imposed one year of supervised release and a $100 special assessment fee.

Jairo Yoel Montoya-Amador, a 21-year-old Honduran national, was indicted for assaulting a federal officer and damaging government property. The charges were announced by United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.

Robert Polk, 23, pleaded guilty to federal charges including drug trafficking, firearm possession in furtherance of drug crimes, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing a stolen firearm. The case was announced by U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Honduran nationals Hector Mondragon-Florres and Edwin Salgado-Nunez were sentenced to over two decades in prison for kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. The sentencing was conducted by U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe and announced by U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.

Benjamin Holmes, a Bogalusa resident, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for fentanyl trafficking conspiracy and federal gun violations. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance on May 13, 2026, with four years of supervised release following his imprisonment.

Kendrick White, Sr., a 43-year-old New Orleans resident, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 15-year-old female aboard a cruise ship in a federal case. The guilty plea was accepted on May 26, 2026, by Judge Darrel James Papillion, as announced by U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.

Dwayne West, a 24-year-old man from New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on May 21, 2026, to one year of probation and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier for the destruction of mail by a postal employee. The case was announced by United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.

LeShawn Parker, known as a "Seventh Ward Soldier," was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm charges and cocaine distribution. The sentence is to be served consecutively after a previous 37-month sentence for supervised release revocation.