New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Weapons Violations

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -RONALD JOHNSON, age 26, a resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty to a three-count superseding bill of information on April 16, 2024 before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey. JOHNSON is the eighth and final defendant to plead guilty in this case.

JOHNSON pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute tapentadol and tramadol, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(2); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).

According to court documents, JOHNSON distributed tapentadol and tramadol in New Orleans in 2022 and 2023. In May of 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed a search warrant at JOHNSON's residence. In JOHNSON's bedroom, FBI agents found a Century Arms C39, 7.62x39 mm caliber semi-automatic pistol and an American Tactical MilSport 300BLK, multi-caliber semi-automatic pistol, both of which were loaded with high-capacity magazines. JOHNSON has felony convictions for first degree robbery and is prohibited from possessing firearms. FBI agents also found packs of tramadol and tapentadol that JOHNSON intended to sell in his residence.

As to his conviction for possession with intent to distribute tapentadol and tramadol, JOHNSON faces up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release, and up to a $1,000,000 fine. As to his conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, he faces a minimum of five years and up to life in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence, and up to five years of supervised release. As to his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, JOHNSON faces up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. Each count also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.

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. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.