A New Orleans man has been sentenced to 120 months in prison for possession of a machine gun. Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that Xavion Watts, aged 22, received the maximum sentence from United States District Judge Lance M. Africk on March 12, 2025. Watts had previously pleaded guilty to violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(o). Following his release from imprisonment, he will be placed on supervised release for three years and must pay a $100 special assessment fee.
Court documents detail that officers from the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) were patrolling the French Quarter on October 29, 2022, when they noticed a firearm in Watts's waistband as he walked along Bourbon Street. When approached by officers, Watts fled but was quickly apprehended. During his arrest, police recovered a Glock Model 17 nine-millimeter handgun equipped with a fully automatic switch and an extended magazine containing 21 rounds and one in the chamber. The switch converted the Glock into a fully automatic machine gun.
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. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a strategy to strengthen PSN based on principles such as fostering community trust and legitimacy, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
Acting United States Attorney Simpson commended the efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller of the Narcotics Unit led the prosecution.