Three Defendants Sentenced for Federal Drug and Gun Offenses

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JONATHAN GONZALEZ (“GONZALEZ”), ANTHONY ROMAN (“ROMAN”), and KEVIN TYLER (“TYLER”), age 25 and residents of New Orleans, were sentenced on May 14, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey after previously pleading guilty to violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts.

GONZALEZ was sentenced to 104 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and $500 in mandatory special assessment fees for his convictions for 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 marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D); possession of a car stolen from the Norfolk Southern Railyard, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 659; conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(o); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i).

ROMAN was sentenced to 90 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and $500 in mandatory special assessment fees for his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D), and 846; conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(o); possession of a car stolen from the Norfolk Southern Railyard, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 659; possession with intent to distribute tapentadol in violation, of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i).

TYLER was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, followed by 4 years of supervised release, and $200 in mandatory special assessment fees for his convictions for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 841(b)(1)(C); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § (c)(1)(A)(i)

According to court documents, on January 29, 2023, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers observed ROMAN driving an Infinity QX80 that was stolen from the Norfolk Southern Railyard.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) subsequently executed search warrants at two of ROMAN’s residences and recovered tapentadol, marijuana, and 10 firearms.

GONZALEZ was a passenger in the stolen Infinity ROMAN was driving on January 29th. When NOPD officers attempted to perform an investigative stop on the vehicle, GONZALEZ fled on foot but was apprehended after a short chase.  He had 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 FBI executed a search at GONZALEZ’s mother’s residence.  GONZALEZ lived at the residence and had a loaded firearm, tapentadol, and marijuana that he intended to sell.

TYLER was intercepted on a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) court authorized wire discussing selling kilogram quantities of cocaine and explaining that he mixed fentanyl with other drugs.  FBI agents subsequently executed a search warrant at TYLER’s residence and recovered fentanyl, a fentanyl precursor, cocaine, and loaded firearms.

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 and the New Orleans Police Department.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.