New Orleans Man Guilty of Drug Trafficking and Possession of Gun in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JADI'KISS J'HAD WILLIAMS ("WILLIAMS"), age 21, pleaded guilty on April 16, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Darrel James Papillion to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D), and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.

According to court documents, on June 13, 2024, Louisiana State Police attempted to stop a stolen Toyota Highlander driven by WILLIAMS. WILLIAMS failed to comply with troopers' orders and instead chose to ram the Louisiana State Police vehicles. During a search of the Toyota Highlander, officers located a firearm as well as controlled substances including fentanyl, Tapentadol, and marijuana, all of which were packaged for distribution.

As to the narcotics charge, WILLIAMS faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, at least 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. As to the firearms charge, he faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, with the minimum being at least 5 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to 5 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. This sentence must be imposed consecutively to any other sentence. Sentencing is scheduled for August 4, 2026.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Louisiana State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.

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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.