New Orleans Man Guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute Tapentadol, Marijuana and Drug Trafficking Related Firearm Possession

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that KENDRICK WILLIAMS ("WILLIAMS"), age 20, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey on October 22, 2024 to possession with intent to distribute tapentadol and, possession with intent to distribute tapentadol and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D); and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).

According to court documents, WILLIAMS advertised the sale of tapentadol and marijuana on social media. Law enforcement officers executed two search warrants at WILLIAMS's residence and recovered over 800 tapentadol pills, one pound of marijuana, two Glock Model handguns with extended magazines, and over $9,000 in cash.

As to each of his drug trafficking convictions, WILLIAMS faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. As to his conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life imprisonment, which is to run consecutively to all other sentences, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. Each individual count also carries 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 the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.