On April 10, 2025, DJohn Bryant, a 32-year-old resident of New Orleans, entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon. Bryant admitted to charges related to drug trafficking and weapon possession. The charges include possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, as prescribed under Title 21, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D) of the United States Code. Additionally, Bryant confessed to possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, violating Title 18, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i) of the United States Code.
Court documents reveal that on February 4, 2024, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers observed Bryant engaging in drug transactions. Upon his arrest, officers discovered he was in possession of cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, oxycodone, tapentadol, marijuana, and a Glock Model 27, .40 caliber handgun, along with ammunition.
For the drug trafficking offenses, Bryant faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and a minimum of three years of supervised release. The weapon charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, which could extend to life imprisonment. This sentence would run consecutively to other sentences Bryant might face, in addition to a fine up to $250,000 and up to five years of supervised release. Each charge requires a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
The case against Bryant is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice. The initiative aims to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime. It coordinates efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department conducted the investigation into Bryant's activities. Special Assistant United States Attorney James Ollinger of the Violent Crime Unit is prosecuting the case.