Brandon Dunn, age 20, pleaded guilty on April 1 before U.S. District Judge Greg G. Guidry to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, as well as possession of a machinegun.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to address drug trafficking and gun crimes in the New Orleans area.
According to court documents, since at least 2023, Dunn sold marijuana and tapentadol in New Orleans. On May 9, 2024, officers from the New Orleans Police Department were conducting surveillance at Dunn’s residence when he arrived in a stolen Infinity Q60. Upon seeing the officers, Dunn fled on foot and discarded a Glock Model 19 handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device and an extended magazine loaded with 25 rounds of ammunition. After a short chase, police apprehended him. Officers found distributable quantities of marijuana in the stolen car and over $1,000 cash on Dunn’s person. Inside his bedroom they recovered a money counter, more than $15,000 in cash, a Romarm/Cugir Model Micro Draco semi-automatic pistol, credit cards belonging to others, and a washed check.
Under the plea agreement reached with prosecutors, Dunn will serve eleven-and-a-half years in prison if the agreement is accepted by the court at sentencing. He also faces supervised release for at least two years up to life for each count. Each charge carries up to $250,000 in fines as well as mandatory special assessment fees.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts involving Department of Justice resources such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman is leading the prosecution.
