Darnell Doucet, 27, was sentenced on August 28, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to 106 months in prison and four years of supervised release for federal drug trafficking and weapons violations. Doucet will also pay a $400 mandatory special assessment fee after pleading guilty to several charges. These include conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute tapentadol, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, tapentadol, and marijuana, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Doucet was observed selling narcotics through his Instagram account during the fall of 2024. On September 24, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence. Officers recovered cocaine, marijuana, tapentadol pills, digital scales, baggies, over $20,000 in cash, and four loaded firearms with extended magazines: a Zastava Model ZPAP92 semi-automatic pistol; a Palmetto State Armory Model PA-15 semi-automatic pistol; a Glock Model 27 .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol; and a Glock Model 48 nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together law enforcement agencies and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The Department launched an updated violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021. This strategy focuses on fostering trust within communities, supporting organizations that work to prevent violence before it occurs, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit prosecuted the case.
"DARNELL DOUCET (“DOUCET”), age 27, was sentenced on August 28, 2025 by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to 106 months in prison followed by (4) four years of supervised release, along with a $400 mandatory special assessment fee..."
"According to court documents...law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at DOUCET’s residence and recovered cocaine, marijuana, tapentadol pills...over $20,000 in cash...and four firearms loaded with extended magazines..."
"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..."
"The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit."
