New Orleans Man Guilty of Federal Drug and Weapons Violations

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -MERVYN LUCAS ("LUCAS"), age 33, pled guilty on October 31, 2024 before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and possession of a car stolen from the Norfolk Southern Railyard, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 659.

According to court documents, law enforcement tracked a brand-new Ford F-150 Raptor, stolen from the Norfolk Southern Railyard, to LUCAS's residence. The vehicle had a fraudulent temporary license plate and, inside the residence in an envelope addressed to LUCAS, was a second fraudulent plate. Additionally, law enforcement found over 10 pounds of vacuum-sealed marijuana for distribution in LUCAS's residence as well as and a Romarm/Cugir Model Micro Draco firearm loaded with over 40 rounds of ammunition. LUCAS possessed the firearm and ammunition in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime.

As to his conviction for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, LUCAS faces up to five years in prison and a minimum of two years of supervised release. As to his conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence, and up to three years of supervised release. As to his conviction for possession of the stolen F-150 Raptor, he faces up to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release. Each count also carries up to a $250,000 fine and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.

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.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana State Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.