Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Man for Carjacking and Firearms Offenses

Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on November 7, 2023, charging a local man with carjacking, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.   

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville, Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

According to the indictment, Octavius Long, 46, was charged with carjacking, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, all of which occurred on May 8, 2023. Long was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.

On February 16, 2016, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Long was convicted of possession of a controlled substance, second offense.

On May 22, 2014, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Long was convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree, less than 4 grams of cocaine, and possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, cocaine.

On August 29, 2003, in Grant Circuit Court, Long was convicted of assault in the third degree, corrections officer.

On November 2, 2000, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Long was convicted of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, and possession of a controlled substance, cocaine.

On June 16, 1999, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Long was convicted of escape in the second degree. 

On January 24, 2024, Long made an initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. He remains in federal custody pending trial. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 7 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is being investigated by the LMPD, HSI, and the FBI.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Porter is prosecuting this case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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