A New Orleans man has been sentenced for attempted carjacking and federal gun charges, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. Warren Roland, aged 33, received his sentence on February 18, 2025, from United States District Judge Brandon S. Long after pleading guilty to the indictment against him.
Roland faced two counts: attempted carjacking in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119(1), and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon under Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). He was sentenced to serve 137 months for the first count and 120 months for the second count concurrently. Additionally, Judge Long ordered three years of supervised release and imposed a $200 mandatory special assessment fee.
The incident leading to Roland's arrest occurred on March 24, 2022. A concerned citizen reported seeing an individual acting suspiciously with a firearm on Read Boulevard in New Orleans East. Officers from the New Orleans Police Department identified Roland as matching the suspect's description but he fled when approached.
During his escape attempt, Roland ran into traffic on Read Boulevard and tried to enter a stopped Toyota SUV while brandishing a firearm. The driver attempted to flee but Roland held onto the door handle and fired a round from his weapon before letting go.
Roland was apprehended at the scene where officers recovered a nine-millimeter Smith & Wesson Model SD9 pistol loaded with fourteen live rounds along with one spent shell casing found in its chamber.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The program emphasizes trust-building within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the New Orleans Police Department for their efforts in this case which was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Dawkins from the Violent Crime Unit.