Mervyn Lucas, a 33-year-old resident of New Orleans, was sentenced to 75 months in prison on February 6, 2025. U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon also ordered three years of supervised release and a $300 mandatory special assessment fee following Lucas's guilty plea to several charges.

Lucas admitted to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, violating 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D). He also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i), and possession of a stolen vehicle from the Norfolk Southern Railyard, violating 18 U.S.C. § 659.

Court documents revealed that law enforcement tracked an $80,000 Ford F-150 Raptor stolen from the Norfolk Southern Railyard to Lucas's residence. The vehicle had a fraudulent temporary license plate, and another fraudulent plate was found inside an envelope addressed to Lucas at his home. Authorities discovered over ten pounds of vacuum-sealed marijuana intended for distribution by Lucas. They also found a Romarm/Cugir Model Micro Draco AK-47-style firearm loaded with more than forty rounds of ammunition in connection with his drug trafficking activities.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aiming to reduce violent crime and gun violence by uniting law enforcement agencies and communities for safer neighborhoods. The Department launched this strategy on May 26, 2021, focusing on building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana State Police. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman from the Violent Crime Unit is prosecuting the case.