River Ridge Man Pleads Guilty to Violations of the Federal Gun Control and Federal Controlled Substances Acts
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On Friday, May 11, 2023, TYRRIN BLUNT, age 27, a resident of River Ridge, Louisiana, pled guilty to a three-count indictment, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. In Count 1, BLUNT is charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute Marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D). BLUNT faces a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and up to 2 years of supervised release. In Count 2, BLUNT is charged with Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i). BLUNT faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, which must run consecutive to any other sentence, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and up to 5 years of supervised release. In Count 3, BLUNT is charged with Possession of a Machine Gun, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(o) and 924(a)(2). BLUNT faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and up to 3 years of supervised release. Additionally, he faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 for each count.
According to court records, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office received information that the odor of marijuana was frequently emanating from BLUNT’s apartment. Detectives obtained a search warrant for BLUNT’s apartment and surveilled the area of his apartment. Detectives saw a blue Honda Civic park in the lot in front of BLUNT’s apartment. They stopped the vehicle, smelled marijuana emanating from within, and discovered BLUNT in the driver’s seat. Given the pronounced smell of marijuana, detectives searched BLUNT’s vehicle and recovered a skull-printed, green and black backpack, containing marijuana, a pistol, and a shoulder holster. The pistol had a machine gun conversion device known as a “Glock switch,” affixed to the slide. Such a switch converts a firearm to a fully automatic machine gun with a single function of the trigger.
During a search of BLUNT’s residence, detectives located marijuana, 2 digital scales, 5 firearms, 10 firearm magazines, various rounds of ammunition, and U.S. currency.
The Honorable Carl J. Barbier, United States District Judge, scheduled BLUNT’s sentencing hearing for August 17, 2023.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Public Integrity Unit.
