Armond Burnette, a 35-year-old resident of New Orleans, has entered a guilty plea to charges related to controlled substances and firearms. The plea was made on February 11, 2025, in response to a three-count indictment. The charges include possession with intent to distribute controlled substances under Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon under Title 21, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
Burnette faces severe penalties including up to 20 years in prison for the drug-related charge, accompanied by at least three years of supervised release and a potential fine reaching $1 million. For the firearm charge, he could receive up to 15 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000. Additionally, Burnette is liable for a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 per count.
Court documents detail that on June 23, 2023, officers from the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) encountered Burnette in the French Quarter due to outstanding warrants. He attempted to flee but was apprehended shortly thereafter. Upon his arrest, officers discovered he had twenty-one individually wrapped baggies containing fentanyl and approximately 3.39 grams of cocaine.
Further investigations on April 25, 2024 revealed additional offenses when NOPD officers observed Burnette leaving a silver BMW and entering a bar with a backpack. Upon exiting without the backpack, officers located it inside the bar near a poker machine; it contained a firearm. A subsequent search of the vehicle unveiled more contraband: seven bags of fentanyl, methamphetamine traces along with other drugs including Tapentadol doses and ecstasy pills.
The case forms part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative designed to reduce violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. Launched on May 26, 2021 by the Department as part of its violent crime reduction strategy based on core principles such as fostering community trust while supporting preventive measures against violence.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives with Assistant U.S Attorney Michael E Trummel from Violent Crimes Unit leading prosecution efforts.