Duane A. Evans, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana
Armond Burnette, a 35-year-old resident of New Orleans, has pled guilty to charges related to drug distribution and firearm possession. The plea was entered on February 11, 2025, following a three-count indictment. Burnette was charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances under Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon under Title 21, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
Burnette faces significant penalties for these offenses. For the drug-related charge, he could receive up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine reaching $1 million. The firearm charge carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000. Additionally, Burnette must pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 per count.
The case details reveal that on June 23, 2023, officers from the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) identified Burnette in the French Quarter while he was wanted for multiple attachments. He fled but was soon apprehended. At the time of his arrest, he had a plastic bag containing fentanyl and cocaine.
Further incidents occurred on April 25, 2024. NOPD officers observed Burnette exiting a silver BMW with a backpack before entering a bar. When he left the bar without the backpack, officers located it near a poker machine inside the establishment. Inside the bag was a firearm; subsequent searches revealed additional drugs and paraphernalia in both the vehicle and backpack.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The program emphasizes trust-building within communities and supports organizations that work to prevent violence.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms investigated this case with Assistant United States Attorney Michael E. Trummel leading the prosecution.
