New Orleans Man Found Guilty of Hobbs Act Robberies and Weapons Violations

NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that MARVIN LEGENDRE, age 40, of New Orleans, was found guilty as charged on September 13, 2023 after a three-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier. 

The jury found LEGENDRE guilty as charged as to all five counts in the indictment.  The indictment charged LEGENDRE, in Counts 1 and 3, with Hobbs Act robberies, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a).  Counts 2 and 4 charged LEGENDRE with using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1).  Count 5 charged LEGENDRE with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). 

The FBI’s New Orleans Violent Crime Task Force worked in conjunction with the New Orleans Police Department and the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office to investigate several Hobbs Act Robberies linked to LEGENDRE.  As charged in the indictment, on March 7, 2021, LEGENDRE committed an armed robbery at a Cricket Wireless in Chalmette, LA. and on March 10, 2021, LEGENDRE committed an armed robbery at a Boost Mobile in New Orleans, LA.

During the investigation, detectives and agents used both physical and video surveillance to track a distinctive vehicle that LEGENDRE, was using to travel to and from the robberies.  Agents then located LEGENDRE’s residence on N. I-10 Service Rd., executed a search warrant, and arrested LEGENDRE.  The search yielded the clothes LEGENDRE wore during the robberies as well as firearms.  Upon further investigation, agents confirmed phone records that placed LEGENDRE at the respective scenes as well as incriminating videos, pictures, and texts sent from LEGENDRE’s phone.

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.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Orleans Police Department and the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Inga Petrovich and Mike Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit.