A Ponchatoula man has pleaded guilty to federal drug and firearm charges, according to an announcement from Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. Rashun Hutchinson, 25, entered his plea on September 11, 2025, before United States District Judge Barry Ashe.
Hutchinson admitted guilt to three counts in the indictment against him. The first count involved conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, specifically fentanyl and methamphetamine. The second count charged him with possession with intent to distribute at least four hundred grams of fentanyl. The third count related to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
On the first two counts, Hutchinson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and up to life in prison, fines that could reach $10 million, and at least five years of supervised release after imprisonment. For the firearms charge, he faces an additional mandatory minimum of five years up to life imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release. He is also required to pay a $100 special assessment fee for each count.
The indictment states that Hutchinson conspired with seven others over an extended period ending on September 10, 2024. They allegedly distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine throughout Tangipahoa Parish using wire and electronic communications.
"This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation," said officials in the statement. "OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach." More information about OCDETF can be found at http://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which coordinates law enforcement efforts aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between agencies and communities. Details about PSN are available at Justice.gov/PSN.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson commended several agencies for their work on this case: the Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; Hammond Police Department; Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office; and Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Sarver from the Narcotics Unit is prosecuting the case.
