New Orleans Man Sentenced for Role in Drug Conspiracy

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARK WILLIAMS ("WILLIAMS"), age 22, of New Orleans, was sentenced on June 25, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to 66 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $300 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute tapentadol and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D), and 846; possession with intent to distribute those substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c).

According to court documents, on May 17, 2023, the FBI executed a search at WILLIAMS's mother's residence. WILLIAMS and his brother, Jonathan Gonzalez, a co-defendant in this case,were both presentat the residence. They each had loaded firearms and possessed tapentadol pills and marijuana with the intent to distribute those substances.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, 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.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.