New Orleans Man Guilty of Drug-Trafficking Crimes and Machinegun Possession

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -BRANDON DUNN ("DUNN"), age 20, pleaded guilty on April 1, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Greg G. Guidry to conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute, marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(D), and 846, and possession of a machinegun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2).

According to court documents, since at least 2023, DUNN sold marijuana and tapentadol in the New Orleans area. On May 9, 2024, New Orleans Police Department Officers were surveilling DUNN's residence. DUNN arrived in a stolen Infinity Q60 and exited the driver's seat of the vehicle. When DUNN saw the officers, he fled on foot and discarded a Glock Model 19, nine-millimeter handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device and an extended magazine loaded with 25 rounds of ammunition. DUNN was apprehended after a short chase. There was a distributable quantity of marijuana in DUNN's stolen car and DUNN had over $1,000 cash in his pockets. Inside DUNN's bedroom, officers recovered a money counter, over $15,000 in cash, a Romarm/Cugir Model Micro Draco, 7.62x39-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, credit cards in other people's names, and a washed check.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, DUNN will serve 11.5 years in prison. The Court took DUNN's guilty plea but deferred its decision on whether to accept or reject the negotiated plea until sentencing. DUNN also faces a term of supervised release of at least two years up to life. Each count also carries a maximum $250,000 fine and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.

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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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.