Two New Orleans residents, Yuan Buggage and Algernon Jacques, both 25, have been indicted on federal drug and firearm charges. The indictment was unsealed on August 7, 2025, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
Buggage and Jacques face multiple counts related to the distribution of controlled substances and illegal possession of firearms. Count one accuses them of conspiring to distribute Tapentadol, a Schedule II controlled substance, and marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance. Both are also charged with possessing these substances with intent to distribute.
In addition to the drug charges, Buggage and Jacques are accused in count three of possessing firearms during a drug trafficking crime. Buggage faces an additional charge for being a felon in possession of firearms.
Court documents state that between March 31 and April 24, 2025, Buggage and Jacques conspired with others to distribute drugs in New Orleans. During this period they allegedly possessed several firearms: two Glock Model 23 Gen 5 .40 caliber pistols and a Glock Model 43X nine-millimeter pistol.
If convicted on the conspiracy or distribution charges (counts one or two), each defendant could receive up to 20 years in prison, fines up to $1 million per count, and at least three years supervised release. The firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years—up to life—served consecutively with other sentences, plus fines up to $250,000 and as much as five years supervised release. For being a felon in possession of firearms (count four), Buggage could face up to 15 years imprisonment.
“Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Simpson commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; New Orleans Police Department; and St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell from the Violent Crimes Unit is leading the prosecution.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America—a national effort by the Department of Justice aimed at fighting illegal immigration-related crime as well as eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordination between its Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) https://www.justice.gov/psn. This initiative brings together resources from various agencies under DOJ oversight.
