Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com.

Help support the publication of case reports on MoreLaw

United States of America v. Dantrell McZeal

Date: 09-12-2025

Case Number:

Judge: Darrel James Papillion

Court: The United States Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (Orleans Parish)

Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in New Orleans

Defendant's Attorney: Click Here For The Best New Orleans, Louisiana Criminal Defense Law Lawyer Directory

Description:
<font color="red"><b><h2><center> New Orleans, Louisiana criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with 2022 Gas Station Shooting </font/color="red"></b></center></i></i><b><center></i><b> </b><br>
New Orleans Man Sentenced to 105 Months for 2022 Gas Station Shooting</h2></center></b></b></center></><br>
</font/color="red"></b></center></i></i"></b></center></i><br>
<center><h2><br>
<br>
DANTRELL MCZEAL ("MCZEAL”), age 34, was sentenced to 105 months imprisonment, and three years of supervised release following his imprisonment. MCZEAL must also pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. MCZEAL pleaded guilty on May 27, 2025 to being a felon in possession of firearms, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). <br>
<br>
In July 2022 MCZEAL and an unknown individual, shot at one another in the parking lot of a New Orleans gas station. MCZEAL was shot in the leg during the gunfire exchange. Ballistic casings recovered from the parking lot revealed that MCZEAL fired nineteen (19) .223 rifle shots during the exchange. The unknown individual fled the parking lot in his vehicle. MCZEAL also fled the parking, lost control of his vehicle, and struck a light pole at a nearby intersection. MCZEAL was seen limping from his vehicle while in possession of a Palmetto State Armory Model PA-15, .223 REM/5.56 x 45mm semi-automatic rifle with an extended magazine.<br>
<br>
New Orleans Police Department officers later recovered a loaded Glock Model 30GEN4, .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, with an extended magazine and a bullet in the chamber, from MCZEAL's abandoned vehicle.<br>
<br>
Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms. MCZEAL is a convicted felon, having previously been convicted in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court of aggravated battery, aggravated burglary, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime Unit/Strike Force Unit.<br>
<br>
Outcome:
<font color="green"><b><h2><center> 105 months imprisonment, and three years of supervised release following his imprisonment. MCZEAL must also pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. </font/color="green"></b></center></i></i><b><center></i><br>
<b> </b> </h2></center></b></b></center></><br>
</font/color="green"></b></center></i></i><b><center></i><br>
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:

About This Case

What was the outcome of United States of America v. Dantrell McZeal?

The outcome was: 105 months imprisonment, and three years of supervised release following his imprisonment. MCZEAL must also pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.

Which court heard United States of America v. Dantrell McZeal?

This case was heard in The United States Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (Orleans Parish), LA. The presiding judge was Darrel James Papillion.

Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Dantrell McZeal?

Plaintiff's attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in New Orleans. Defendant's attorney: Click Here For The Best New Orleans, Louisiana Criminal Defense Law Lawyer Directory.

When was United States of America v. Dantrell McZeal decided?

This case was decided on September 12, 2025.