New Orleans Man Sentenced for Federal Gun and and Drug Charges

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DERICK GETTRIDGE, age 27, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on December 17, 2024, by United States District Judge Brandon S. Long, after previously pleading guilty to Counts 1 and 2 of an indictment. The indictment charged GETTRIDGE with possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(D) (Count 1); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(a)(A) (Count 2).

GETTRIDGE was sentenced to a total of 63 months in prison, comprising of 3 months for Count 1 and 60 months for Count 2, to be served consecutively. Additionally, Judge Long ordered a 4-year term of supervised release and imposed a mandatory special assessment fee of $200.

According to court documents, New Orleans Police Department officers stopped GETTRIDGE for traffic violations. During a search of his vehicle, the officers found three digital scales, sandwich baggies, and two Glock pistols, which GETTRIDGE admitted that he possessed in the furtherance of his narcotics trafficking. Police officers also discovered $892.00 in U.S. currency in GETTRIDGE's pocket.

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.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell of the Violent Crimes Unit.