Three Individuals Plead Guilty to Violating Federal Gun Control Act and Possessing Cars from Norfolk Southern Railyard

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – QUINTRELL BROWN, age 19, NICKIE WHITLEY, age 35, and ERIN MURTHIL, age 21, all residents of New Orleans, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to charges in a 20-count indictment.

BROWN pleaded guilty on November 14, 2023, to conspiracy to possess cars stolen from the Norfolk Southern Automotive Distribution Facility (“Facility”), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371; possession of a car stolen from the Facility, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 659; possession with intent to distribute tapentadol, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).

According to court documents, BROWN was arrested in the French Quarter section of New Orleans on February 11, 2023.  When NOPD officers attempted to stop him, he fled and threw a loaded Glock Model 19 handgun into a dumpster. When BROWN was apprehended, he had 60 tapentadol pills and over $2,500 cash in his pockets.  Text messages from BROWN’s cell phone evidenced him selling tapentadol.

On March 27, 2023, several Ford vehicles were stolen from the Facility.  That same day, BROWN performed internet searches for the exact models of Ford vehicles that were stolen.  Although BROWN does not own a Ford vehicle, his cell phone connected to a “Ford Explorer” over 200 times between March 21 and April 3, 2023.  BROWN was captured on surveillance video occupying a Ford Explorer Timberline on multiple occasions between March 27 and April 3, 2023.

WHITLEY and MURTHIL pleaded guilty on November 16, 2023. WHITLEY pleaded guilty to four counts, and MURTHIL pleaded guilty to two counts, of possessing a car stolen from the Facility in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 659.  WHITLEY additionally pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).  MURTHIL additionally pleaded guilty to possession of a machinegun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2).

According to court documents, law enforcement tracked a vehicle stolen from the Facility to a residence in the Seventh Ward section of New Orleans.  On March 29, 2023, a Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) camera captured WHITLEY, MURTHIL, and three others leaving the residence dressed in dark clothing with hoods.  That morning, a number of vehicles were stolen from the Norfolk Southern Automotive Distribution Facility, including a 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor, a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks, and a 2023 Lincoln Aviator.  Later on, WHITLEY returned to the residence driving the Ford F-150 Raptor stolen from the Facility only  35 minutes earlier.  Thereafter, MURTHIL arrived at the residence driving the stolen Lincoln Aviator, that already had a stolen Louisiana military honors license plate affixed to it.  That same day, a window-tinting company tinted the windows of all three stolen vehicles in front of the residence.  Over the next six days, WHITLEY and MURTHIL were captured on RTCC camera driving or occupying several of vehicles stolen from the Facility.

Further, WHITLEY was also seen on camera possessing a stolen Glock Model 19x handgun.  MURTHIL’s cell phone was seized and searched pursuant to a search warrant.  The phone contained a picture of MURTHIL holding a Glock Model 17 handgun with a machinegun conversion device and drum magazine attached to it while sitting in the driver’s seat of the stolen Lincoln Aviator.  The stolen Glock 19x handgun, the Glock Model 17 with the machinegun conversion device, and the drum magazine were all recovered from the Seventh Ward residence.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted a function test of the Glock Model 17, with the machinegun conversion device, and confirmed that it functioned as a machinegun.

BROWN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release on the conspiracy count.

BROWN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and a minimum of three years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute tapentadol.

BROWN faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life imprisonment, which is to run consecutively to all other sentences, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

BROWN, WHITLEY, and MURTHIL each face a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release, on each count of possessing a vehicle stolen from the Facility.

WHITLEY faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

MURTHIL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release, for possessing a machinegun.

Each count also carries a $100 mandatory 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 Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.