NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — 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, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on Friday, November 19, 2021, KEON ESTEEN, age 18, a resident of Orleans Parish, was charged in a two-count indictment for carjacking and a gun violation.  Count 1 of the indictment charges ESTEEN with a carjacking that occurred on April 3, 2021, in the Eastern District of Louisiana. Count 2 charges ESTEEN with using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

In Count 1 of the indictment, ESTEEN is charged with carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119(1).  If convicted, ESTEEN faces a maximum sentence of up to fifteen (15) years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, a period of up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.  In Count 2, ESTEEN is charged with using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(ii).  If convicted, ESTEEN faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven (7) years up to a maximum of life imprisonment, to be run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a fine of up to $250,000, a period of up to five (5) 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 being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime/Strike Force Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.