New Orleans Man Guilty of Drug Trafficking and Firearms Violations

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - ERSEL HUNT ("HUNT"), age 34, pleaded guilty on July 2, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe to a four-count indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.

According to court documents, the aforementioned narcotics and firearms charges relate to two separate incidents, as follows. On May 6, 2025, Louisiana State Police (LSP) troopers attempted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by HUNT. HUNT refused to stop and a pursuit ensued. After crashing the vehicle, HUNT was arrested and found in possession of a pistol, marijuana, methamphetamine, a digital scale, clear plastic bags, gloves, and a ski mask. After further investigation, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at HUNT's residence located on Allen Street in New Orleans, where they recovered a handgun and an AK47 rifle.

HUNT will be sentenced on September 10, 2026, and faces the following penalties:

Count 1-charging possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances -carries a penalty of up to twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, at least three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

Count 2-charging the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime-carries a penalty of at least five years up to life that must run consecutively to all other terms of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to five years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

Counts 3 and 4-charging being a felon in possession of a firearm-carries a penalty of up to fifteen years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, as to each count.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

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