Ryan Johnson, 22, was sentenced on November 5, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance to 103 months in prison and five years of supervised release. He also received a $400 special assessment fee after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, possession with intent to distribute tapentadol, tramadol, and marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Court documents state that Johnson was arrested on September 1, 2023, while driving a stolen car in Joe Brown Park in New Orleans. After being ordered out of the vehicle by New Orleans Police Department officers, a Glock Model 23 firearm was found under his seat along with marijuana and tapentadol inside the car. Johnson was released on bond following this arrest but continued selling marijuana and tapentadol. In March 2024, he was again observed driving another stolen car. On March 28, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence and recovered firearms belonging to both Johnson and his brother Bryan Turner, who is also named as a co-defendant. Authorities also found Johnson’s backpack containing marijuana, tapentadol, a face mask, gloves, and burglary tools.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which coordinates efforts among law enforcement agencies and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence.
According to the press release: “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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman from the Violent Crime Unit prosecuted it.
