Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JONATHAN GONZALEZ, age 25, MARK WILLIAMS, age 22, and DERRICK BRUMFIELD, age 23, residents of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on January 30, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to charges in a 15-count second superseding indictment. GONZALEZ, WILLIAMS, and BRUMFIELD each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C)-(D), and 846. Both GONZALEZ and WILLIAMS pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C)-(D), and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). GONZALEZ additionally pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(o), and to possessing a vehicle stolen from the Norfolk Southern Automotive Distribution Facility, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 659.
According to court documents, on January 29, 2023, GONZALEZ was a passenger in an Infinity QX80 stolen from the Norfolk Southern Automotive Distribution Facility. When NOPD officers attempted to perform an investigative stop on the vehicle, GONZALEZ fled on foot but was quickly apprehended. He possessed a Glock Model 19 pistol, an extended magazine containing 29 rounds of ammunition, a large bag of marijuana, a digital scale, and plastic baggies. On May 17, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) searched GONZALEZ’s mother’s residence, in the presence of both GONZALEZ and WILLIAMS. Both men possessed loaded firearms, tapentadol pills and marijuana, with the intent to distribute those substances.
On May 19, 2023, FBI executed a search warrant at a Ninth Ward residence and seized cocaine and tapentadol, among other controlled substances. BRUMFIELD conspired with the occupants of the residence to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, cocaine and tapentadol.
As to their convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, GONZALEZ, WILLIAMS, and BRUMFIELD each face up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. WILLIAMS faces the same penalties for his conviction for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. GONZALEZ faces up to 5 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and a minimum of two years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. As to their convictions for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, GONZALEZ and WILLIAMS each face a minimum of five years and up to life in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. For his conviction for conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, GONZALEZ faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Finally, for his conviction for possessing a vehicle stolen from the Norfolk Southern Automotive Distribution Facility, GONZALEZ faces up to 10 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. As to each count of conviction, GONZALEZ, WILLIAMS, and BRUMFIELD must pay a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.