A 22-year-old Louisiana man has pleaded guilty to possession of a machinegun, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
Ladonte Richardson of New Orleans faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release.
Court records reveal that Richardson came under investigation in 2023 after posting what authorities believed to be advertisements for drug sales on his Instagram account. A subsequent search warrant for his Instagram account revealed images of Richardson possessing firearms, including a video of him brandishing a weapon with a laser sight.
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When Richardson was arrested on unrelated murder charges in September 2023, a search of his residence uncovered the same firearm seen in his Instagram posts. The firearm was equipped with a “switch” device, converting it into a fully automatic machinegun, and had been reported stolen.
Richardson admitted to possessing the firearm and knowing that it was a machinegun.
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