Terry Baham, Jr., a 37-year-old resident of St. Bernard Parish, pleaded guilty on August 12, 2025 before United States District Judge Brandon S. Long to several drug and firearm offenses. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced the plea.
According to court documents, in October 2021, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s deputies received information about Baham’s drug trafficking activities at his home in Chalmette, Louisiana. After obtaining a search warrant for the residence, deputies seized approximately 112 grams of fentanyl, 74 grams of cocaine, 14 grams of methamphetamine, 405 grams of marijuana and 112 THC cartridges. Four firearms were also found: a Beretta Model BU9 Nano nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol; a Glock Model 27 .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol; a Zastava Arms Model PAP M85 NP .223 caliber semi-automatic pistol; and a Sharps Bros. Model Warthog .223 caliber rifle.
Baham faces significant penalties for these charges. For the drug count, he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and up to forty years in prison, along with a possible fine up to $5 million and at least four years of supervised release after imprisonment. There is also a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 for this charge.
For the firearm count related to possession in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Baham faces an additional mandatory minimum term of five years’ imprisonment to be served consecutively with any other sentence imposed. He could also face up to $250,000 in fines, five years supervised release following imprisonment and another $100 special assessment fee.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney André Jones from the Narcotics Unit is prosecuting.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and community organizations across all levels. In May 2021, the Department implemented an updated violent crime reduction strategy focused on building trust within communities, supporting prevention efforts by local groups, prioritizing strategic enforcement actions and tracking outcomes.
“The Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results,” according to officials.
