U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the sentencing of Jazz Gilds, a 39-year-old resident of Jefferson Parish, for federal gun and drug charges. Gilds was sentenced on January 30, 2025, by United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter after pleading guilty to two counts from a three-count indictment.
Count 1 involved possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, violating Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). Count 3 charged him with being a felon in possession of firearms under Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
Gilds received a sentence of 108 months in prison for both counts, which will run concurrently. Additionally, Judge Vitter ordered three years of supervised release and imposed a $200 mandatory special assessment fee.
Court documents revealed that Gilds engaged in a physical altercation at a hotel in Jefferson Parish before fleeing in a stolen vehicle. He was later apprehended by deputies from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office after attempting to escape on foot. The search of the vehicle uncovered two firearms: a Ruger Model P942 .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a stolen Anderson Manufacturing Model AM-15 rifle. Further investigation led to the seizure of illegal narcotics and ammunition from Gilds's hotel room.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The program emphasizes trust-building within communities, support for community-based violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and outcome measurement.
U.S. Attorney Evans commended the efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alongside the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell from the Violent Crime Unit prosecuted the case.