Ryan Johnson, 22, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on August 13, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance to several charges related to drug trafficking and firearms offenses. The charges include conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, possession with intent to distribute tapentadol, tramadol, and marijuana, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Court documents state that Johnson was arrested on September 1, 2023, while driving a stolen car in Joe Brown Park in New Orleans. Police officers recovered a Glock Model 23 firearm under his seat and found marijuana and tapentadol inside the vehicle. After being released on bond following this arrest, Johnson continued selling marijuana and tapentadol. In March 2024, he was seen driving another stolen car. On March 28, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence where they found firearms belonging to Johnson and a co-defendant. They also recovered Johnson’s backpack containing marijuana, tapentadol, a face mask, gloves, and burglary tools.
Johnson faces up to 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances along with fines up to $1 million and at least three years of supervised release. For the firearms conspiracy conviction he faces up to 20 years in prison with fines up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. The conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life in prison which must run consecutively with any other count; it also includes fines up to $250,000 and up to five years of supervised release. Each count has 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," according to the press release. "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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman from the Violent Crime Unit is leading the prosecution.
