Two New Orleans Men Sentenced in Theft of Cars from Railyard Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana Dateline: New Orleans, Louisiana Date: 7 June 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MISTER MACKEY, JR., age 22, and JONATHAN FRANK, age 40, residents of New Orleans, were sentenced on May 28, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey after previously pleading guilty to charges arising out of a 20-count indictment.  MACKEY and FRANK are the final of the 10 defendants to be sentenced in the case.

MACKEY was sentenced to 58 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $400 mandatory special assessment fee for possessing two cars stolen from the Norfolk Southern Railyard, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 659; being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8); and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D).

FRANK was sentenced to 87 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $300 mandatory special assessment fee after also being convicted of possessing two cars stolen from the Norfolk Southern Railyard, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 659 and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).

According to court documents, between March 29 and April 3, 2023, MACKEY was observed on surveillance video occupying both a 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor Crew Cab 4x4 and a 2023 Lincoln Aviator that had been stolen from the Norfolk Southern Railyard.  MACKEY exited the Aviator on April 3^rd with a loaded Zastava Model PAP M92 PV, 7.62x39 millimeter caliber AK-47-style pistol.  On August 19, 2023, MACKEY was the sole passenger in a vehicle pulled over for a traffic violation.  Inside the vehicle, MACKEY had a backpack containing marijuana and digital scales, and also possessed a Glock Model 17 handgun with a loaded 30-round magazine partially inserted in the gun, and an additional loaded drum magazine in the passenger glove box.

Between March 30 and April 3, 2023, FRANK was captured on surveillance video driving two Ford Explorer STs stolen from the Norfolk Southern Railyard.  FRANK possessed a Smith & Wesson Model SD40VE, .40 caliber handgun while driving the stolen cars.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.

Shane M. Jones

Public Information Officer

United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana

United States Department of Justice

Updated June 7, 2024