A Marrero man has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to drug possession and illegal firearm possession. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that Jahbrell Price, 25, entered a guilty plea before United States District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown on August 21, 2025.
Price was charged in a two-count indictment. The first count involved possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, while the second count concerned possession of a machine gun. Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2025.
Court documents state that on January 7, 2024, detectives from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office located Price at a motel in Marrero, Louisiana. He was taken into custody due to an outstanding Orleans Parish arrest warrant. After obtaining a search warrant for his hotel room, detectives found twenty bottles of promethazine totaling 9,460 milliliters, $1,375 in cash, and a Glock Model 45 nine-millimeter handgun equipped with an external machine gun conversion device.
If convicted on both counts, Price could face up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine for the drug charge and up to ten years in prison with a $250,000 fine for possessing the machine gun. Each count also carries mandatory special assessment fees.
The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through coordinated efforts between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department of Justice strengthened PSN’s strategy in May 2021 by focusing on community trust, support for violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and results measurement.
"Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms." The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the General Crimes Unit.
