New Orleans Felon Pleads Guilty To Federal Drug-Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MICHAEL BROOKS ("BROOKS"), age 30, pleaded guilty on July 23, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and tapentadol, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D), and 846; possession with intent to distribute those same substances in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D); conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(o); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.

According to court documents, on August 13, 2025, BROOKS and his co-defendant were pulled over by the Louisiana State Police. Inside the car, troopers recovered over 2.5 pounds of marijuana, tapentadol pills, a digital scale, a Glock handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device and an extended magazine, and a Romarm/CugirMini Draco, 7.62x39mm semi-automatic pistol equipped with a loaded extended magazine. BROOKS is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions for first-degree robbery and aggravated battery.

As to his drug-trafficking convictions, BROOKS faces up to 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release up to life. As to his conviction for conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, BROOKS faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. As to his conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, BROOKS faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and up to life in prison, which must run consecutively to each other and any other sentence, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. As to his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, BROOKS faces up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

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

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys' offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department's commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump's Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

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