U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
New Orleans Men Guilty of Multiple Drug and Gun Offenses
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that HENRY MITCHELL (“MITCHELL”), age 25, and JAYLAN WASHINGTON (“WASHINGTON”), age 29, former residents of New Orleans, pled guilty on April 1, 2025, before United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry to drug and gun charges contained in an indictment previously returned against them. Listed below are the charges to which MITCHELL and WASHINGTON pled guilty and the possible sentence that can be imposed:
| CHARGE | DEFENDANT | PENALTY |
| Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute marihuana, Fentanyl, tapentadol and tramadol, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846 | MITCHELL WASHINGTON | Up to 20 Years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least 3 years of supervised release |
| Possession With Intent to Distribute marihuana, Fentanyl, tapentadol and tramadol, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C) | MITCHELL | Up to 20 Years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least 3 years of supervised release |
| Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1) | MITCHELL | Up to 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release |
| Possession of a Machine Gun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(o) | MITCHELL | Up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, not more than and up to 3 years of supervised release |
| Possession of a Machine Gun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(o) | MITCHELL | Up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release |
| Possession with Intent to Distribute marihuana, and tapentadol, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C) | WASHINGTON | Up to 20 Years imprisonment , a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least 3 years of supervised release |
| Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1) | WASHINGTON | Not more than up to 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release |
| Possession of a Machine Gun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(o) | WASHINGTON | Not more than up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release |
Each offense also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
Sentencing will occur on July 8, 2025, at 10:00 am. Both will remain detained without bond.
Documents filed in court reflect that MITCHELL and WASHINGTON were openly selling various controlled substances in the Seventh Police District of New Orleans. FBI Violent Task Officers observed this activity after receiving multiple citizen complaints and summoned New Orleans Police Department officers who surrounded the area and arrested MITCHELL and WASHINGTON. A search of their vehicles revealed both controlled substances and firearms. Officers also recovered “Glock switches”, devices that make semiautomatic weapons fully automatic. These devices are considered machineguns under federal law. Additionally, documents reveal that both MITCHELL and WASHINGTON have several prior felony convictions.
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.
The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crime Task Force, and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller of the Narcotics Unit is assigned the prosecution.
Contact
Shane M. Jones
Public Information Officer
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
United States Department of Justice
Updated April 4, 2025
Topic
Project Safe Neighborhoods