New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Carjacking and Gun Offenses

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DEVON FRITH(“FRITH”), age 25, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on April 3, 2024 before United States District Judge Lance M. Africk to Carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119 and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).

For the carjacking charge, FRITH faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release. For the Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence charge, FRITH faces a consecutive term of imprisonment of at least 5 years, up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. Each offense also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.

Judge Africk ordered a pre-sentence report and scheduled sentencing for July 24, 2024.  

Court documents reveal that FRITH, while wearing a ski mask, stole a car at gunpoint from the victim as she was attempting to open the driver’s side door. The victim provided the responding New Orleans Police Officers (NOPD) with real time updates, since her vehicle was equipped with tracking capabilities. FRITH crashed this vehicle shortly after the carjacking. The weapon FRITH used in the carjacking, a loaded Glock Model 26, nine-millimeter semi-automatic handgun, was recovered by NOPD officers.

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 - Violent Crimes Task Force, and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller of the Narcotics Unit is handling the prosecution.