A New Orleans man, Ryan Johnson, has been sentenced to a term of over eight years for offenses relating to drug trafficking and firearms. Johnson, who is 22, will face 103 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. He will also be required to pay a $400 special assessment fee after a guilty plea to several charges, including conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking and possession with intent to distribute various controlled substances, according to a recent announcement made by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The charges stem from an arrest on September 1, 2023, where Johnson was caught driving a stolen car in Joe Brown Park, as described in court documents. Police found a Glock Model 23 firearm, marijuana, and tapentadol in the vehicle. Despite being released on bond, Johnson continued to evidently sell drugs, leading to another arrest in March 2024 when another stolen car was linked to him. A subsequent search of his residence turned up more firearms and illegal substances.
This case is a part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, an effort to “to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone,” as stated in the program details launched in May 2021. The initiative aims to foster trust within communities, support organizations working to prevent violence, and establish targeted and strategic enforcement priorities…