NOLA Duo Hit With Massive Drug & Gun Sentences

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Two New Orleans men are off the streets for a long time after receiving harsh federal sentences for a litany of drug and gun offenses. HENRY MITCHELL, 35, and JAYLAN WASHINGTON, 30, were sentenced July 22, 2025, by United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry, following guilty pleas that exposed a brazen operation openly peddling poison and packing serious heat in the Plum Orchard neighborhood.

The feds didn’t mess around. MITCHELL faced the music for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute marihuana, Fentanyl, tapentadol and tramadol (21 U.S.C. § 846), and Possession With Intent to Distribute the same (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) & (b)(1)(C)). He also pleaded guilty to being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)) and *two* counts of Possession of a Machine Gun (18 U.S.C. § Section 922(o)). The judge handed down 151 months for the drug charges, 151 months for the firearm charge, and 120 months for each machine gun count – all to run concurrently. He’ll also be under supervised release for 3 years after serving his time.

WASHINGTON wasn’t far behind. He copped to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute marihuana, Fentanyl, tapentadol and tramadol (21 U.S.C. § 846) and Possession with Intent to Distribute marihuana, and tapentadol (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C)). Like Mitchell, he was also hit with a Felon in Possession of a Firearm (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)) and Possession of a Machine Gun (18 U.S.C. § 922(o)). His sentence? 120 months on each charge, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

The bust went down after Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crime Task Force Officers (TFO) responded to multiple complaints from residents of Plum Orchard. They observed MITCHELL and WASHINGTON openly dealing drugs, prompting a coordinated operation with the New Orleans Police Department. A search of their vehicles turned up not only the drugs but also firearms and, critically, “Glock switches” – illegal devices that turn semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic machine guns. These switches are no joke, and the feds treated them as such.

Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller of the Narcotics Unit made sure the penalties fit the crime. Both men have prior felony convictions, including previous run-ins with drug and firearm laws, adding weight to the prosecution’s case. Judge Guidry also ordered MITCHELL to pay $500.00 in mandatory special assessment fees and WASHINGTON to pay $400.00. This wasn’t just about locking them up; it was about making them pay for the damage they inflicted on the community.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program focused on reducing violent crime and gun violence. The Department’s renewed emphasis on PSN involves fostering trust with communities, supporting local organizations, and strategically targeting enforcement efforts. The FBI Violent Crime Task Force and the New Orleans Police Department worked together on the investigation, demonstrating a unified front against the city’s criminal element. This sends a clear message: bringing drugs and illegal guns into New Orleans will come with a steep price.

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