NEW ORLEANS, LA – Darnell Doucet, a 27-year-old New Orleans resident, will spend the next eight years and ten months behind bars after receiving a 106-month federal sentence for a litany of drug and weapons charges. U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier handed down the sentence on August 28, 2025, following Doucet’s guilty plea. In addition to the prison term, Doucet faces four years of supervised release and a $400 mandatory special assessment fee.
The charges stem from a fall 2024 investigation that revealed Doucet was openly peddling narcotics through his Instagram account. Authorities quickly zeroed in, and on September 24, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Doucet’s residence. What they found wasn’t just drugs – it was a full-blown arsenal fueling his operation.
The search uncovered a cocktail of illegal substances: cocaine, marijuana, and a substantial quantity of tapentadol pills. Alongside the drugs, investigators seized digital scales, packaging materials, and a staggering $20,000 in cash. But the real shock came with the discovery of four loaded firearms, each equipped with extended magazines. These included a Zastava Model ZPAP92, 7.62 caliber semi-automatic pistol; a Palmetto State Armory Model PA-15, multi-caliber semi-automatic pistol; a Glock Model 27, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol; and a Glock Model 48, nine-millimeter caliber semi-automatic pistol.
Doucet was ultimately convicted of conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, tapentadol (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846); possession with intent to distribute cocaine, tapentadol, and marijuana (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D)); possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i)); and being a felon in possession of a firearm (18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8)). The combination of drug dealing and readily available firearms painted a dangerous picture, one the court clearly took seriously.
Federal officials framed the case as a victory for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program designed to combat violent crime and gun violence through coordinated law enforcement efforts. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened PSN strategy in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, preventative measures, strategic enforcement, and measurable results. This case, they claim, is a direct outcome of those principles.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and lengthy sentence. Doucet’s case serves as a stark reminder that drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession will not be tolerated in New Orleans, and those involved will face the full force of federal law.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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