New Orleans Woman Pleads Guilty to Violations of The Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JASHA BANKS, a/k/a “Chocolate,” age 39, pleaded guilty on August 2, 2023, before United States District Judge Susie Morgan to a three count indictment charging her with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8) (Count 1); possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C) (Count 2); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i) (Count 3), announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.

As to Count 1, the maximum penalty is  up to 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release.

As to Count 2, the maximum penalty is  up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1 million, and at least 3 years of supervised release.

As to Count 3, the maximum penalty is not less than 5 years up to  life  imprisonment, to run consecutive to all other counts, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 5 years of supervised release. As to each count, JASHA BANKS also faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.

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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit.