New Orleans Man Sentenced For Armed Robbery Spree

NEW ORLEANS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)), published as received.

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that JAMES RAIFORD, age 26, of New Orleans, was sentenced on January 7, 2020 to a term of 74 months for multiple violations of Hobbs Act Robbery, and one count of Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery. Additionally, the Honorable Wendy B. Vitter, U.S. District Court Judge of the Eastern District of Louisiana, sentenced RAIFORD to serve 120 months, to run consecutive to the 74 month sentence, for violating the Federal Gun Control Act, by brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the Hobbs Act Robberies and Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery.  After the completion of his sentence, RAIFORD will be on supervised release for a period of 3 years.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department conducted an investigation into armed robberies occurring at various businesses located in New Orleans, Louisiana during April of 2018.  On April 17, 2018, RAIFORD robbed the Boost Mobile cellular telephone store located at 7058 Read Boulevard, while in possession of a firearm.  On April 19, 2018, RAIFORD robbed the Boost Mobile cellular telephone store located at 5741 Crowder Boulevard, while in possession of a firearm.  On April 19, 2018, RAIFORD robbed the Dollar General store located at 11020 Morrison Road, while in possession of a firearm.  On April 24, 2018, RAIFORD robbed the Kwik Pik gas station and convenience store located at 10040 Morrison Road, while in possession of a firearm.   The last robbery occurred on April 25, 2018, at the Boost Mobile cellular telephone store located at 2277 St. Claude Avenue.  RAIFORD brandished firearms and threatened harm to the victims during each of the robberies.  RAIFORD obtained $3,572.00 in total as a result of the robberies.

NOPD detectives identified RAIFORD from surveillance camera footage recovered from the stores.  A search of RAIFORD’s cellular telephone showed that RAIFORD researched the robberies after he committed them.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safe for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.