New Orleans Man Sentenced to 227 Months in Prison for Armed Carjacking Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana Byline: Shane M. Jones Dateline: New Orleans, Louisiana Date: 7 December 2023 Subjects: American Government , Crime Topic: Honda CR-V

NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States District Judge Lance M. Africk sentenced FURRELL JOHNSON, age 33, of New Orleans, to 227 months in  prison for armed carjacking, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.

JOHNSON pleaded guilty to two counts related to the carjacking of a Honda CRV on October 13, 2022, including carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.  According to court records, JOHNSON approached the victim as the victim was returning to his vehicle and snatched a key from the victim’s hand.  When the victim turned toward JOHNSON, JOHNSON pulled a black semi-automatic handgun from his waistband and pointed it at the victim.  JOHNSON and a still unidentified accomplice then fled in the vehicle.

Judge Africk sentenced JOHNSON to 71 months on the carjacking count, to be followed by three years of supervised release.  On the brandishing a firearm count, Judge Africk sentenced JOHNSON to 156 months to be served consecutively to the 71 months on the carjacking count, for a total sentence of 227 months. Judge Africk imposed five years of supervised release on the firearm count.  JOHNSON was also ordered to pay a mandatory $100 special assessment feeper count.

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.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Haller 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 December 7, 2023