A New Orleans resident, Jonas Richard, has pled guilty to federal drug charges involving the distribution of fentanyl. According to United States Attorney Duane A. Evans, Richard entered his plea on January 16, 2025, for three counts under a superseding indictment. The charges were based on violations of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C).
Richard is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment for each count. He may also be fined up to $1,000,000 and will be subject to at least three years of supervised release along with a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. Sentencing is scheduled for April 24, 2025.
The court documents reveal that Richard's involvement was uncovered during an operation by undercover agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in the French Quarter on August 24, 2023. Richard approached the agents offering narcotics for sale. Following negotiations for heroin, he contacted his supplier who delivered fentanyl instead. The narcotics provided weighed approximately 3.36 grams.
Further interactions with the undercover agents led to another sale on August 28, where Richard sold them an additional 16.26 grams of fentanyl in a parking lot in New Orleans.
On September 15, Richard conducted another transaction selling two packages containing fentanyl-laced heroin weighing 12.10 grams and 4.02 grams respectively.
This case forms part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and enhancing community safety through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and local communities. Launched by the Department on May 26, 2021, PSN focuses on fostering trust within communities and supporting organizations that prevent violence while setting strategic enforcement priorities.
The investigation was carried out by the Drug Enforcement Administration alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Dawkins from the Violent Crime Unit prosecuted this case.