A New Orleans man, identified as Ralph Price, has been indicted on federal drug and firearm charges, according to an announcement made by Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson. Price, 27, was charged by a federal grand jury on April 4, 2025, with three counts related to violations of the Federal Gun Control Act and Federal Controlled Substances Act.
The charges against Price include possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Suboxone, and marijuana. This particular charge falls under several sections of Title 21, United States Code. Additionally, Price is accused of possessing a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and general possession of a machinegun, both violations of Title 18, United States Code.
If convicted on the first count, Price faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release. The second count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years up to life imprisonment, in addition to a fine of up to $250,000 and five years of supervised release. The third count could result in a maximum sentence of 10 years, a $10,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Each charge also includes a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
The indictment was filed following an incident dated March 13, 2025, in which Price allegedly possessed the aforementioned drugs with intent to distribute. He also reportedly had a Glock Model 19 pistol with a machinegun conversion device connected to the drug trafficking crime.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson emphasized, "The indictment is merely a charge and the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt." The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation, with Assistant United States Attorney David Berman handling the prosecution.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, cartels, transnational criminal organizations, and violent crime. The operation incorporates efforts from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
