Two New Orleans Men Plead Guilty to Federal Gun and Drug Offenses

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KEVIN TYLER, III, age 25, and ANTHONY ROMAN, age 25, residents of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on February 7, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to federal drug and weapons charges. TYLER pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 841(b)(1)(C). ROMAN pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute tapentadol and conspiracy to distribute tapentadol and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B-D), and 846. TYLER and ROMAN also each pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). ROMAN additionally pleaded guilty 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, law enforcement observed ROMAN driving an Infinity QX80 that was stolen from the Norfolk Southern Automotive Distribution Facility. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) subsequently executed search warrants at two of ROMAN’s residences and recovered tapentadol, marijuana, and ten firearms. ROMAN purchased two of the firearms and possessed them in furtherance of drug trafficking.

The FBI executed a search warrant at TYLER’s residence and recovered fentanyl, a fentanyl precursor, cocaine, and loaded firearms.  TYLER possessed the fentanyl and cocaine with the intent to distribute those substances and possessed a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

For his conviction for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, TYLER faces a minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and at least four years of supervised release. For his convictions for possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute tapentadol, ROMAN faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release on each count.  For their convictions for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, TYLER and ROMAN 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. Finally, for his conviction for possessing a vehicle stolen from the Norfolk Southern Automotive Distribution Facility, ROMAN 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, TYLER and ROMAN 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.