Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that Henry Mitchell, 35, and Jaylan Washington, 30, both from New Orleans, were sentenced on July 22, 2025. The sentencing was conducted by United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry following their guilty pleas to federal drug and gun charges.
Mitchell faced multiple charges including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, fentanyl, tapentadol, and tramadol; possession with intent to distribute these substances; felon in possession of a firearm; and possession of a machine gun. He received a sentence of 151 months for most charges and 120 months for the machine gun possession charge, all to be served concurrently along with three years of supervised release. Additionally, he is required to pay $500 in mandatory special assessment fees.
Washington was charged similarly with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, fentanyl, tapentadol, and tramadol; possession with intent to distribute marijuana and tapentadol; felon in possession of a firearm; and possession of a machine gun. He received concurrent sentences of 120 months for each charge plus three years of supervised release. His mandatory special assessment fees total $400.
Court documents indicate that Mitchell and Washington were involved in openly selling controlled substances in New Orleans' Plum Orchard Neighborhood. Their activities drew attention after citizen complaints led Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crime Task Force Officers (TFO) to observe them. Subsequent involvement by New Orleans Police Department Officers resulted in their arrest after surrounding the area. Searches revealed controlled substances and firearms within their vehicles as well as "Glock switches," which convert semiautomatic weapons into fully automatic ones classified as machine guns under federal law.
Both defendants have previous felony convictions related to drug and firearm laws violations.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative uniting law enforcement at all levels with communities they serve aiming at reducing violent crime through strategies such as fostering community trust alongside setting strategic enforcement priorities while supporting organizations focused on violence prevention.
The investigation was carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crime Task Force along with the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller from the Narcotics Unit handled prosecution duties.
