A New Orleans man has been sentenced for federal drug and firearms offenses following his guilty plea in U.S. District Court. Niroko Johnson, also known as “Ro,” age 29, received his sentence on August 14, 2025, from United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier.
Johnson was convicted of possessing over seven hundred grams of fentanyl and two firearms. For possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, he was sentenced to 180 months in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. On the charge of felon in possession of firearms, Johnson received a sentence of 120 months imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and another $100 mandatory special assessment fee. The sentences will run concurrently.
According to court records, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Johnson’s residence on March 18, 2022. Officers recovered 747 grams of fentanyl and two firearms during the search. Johnson admitted that he possessed the fentanyl with the intent to distribute it and acknowledged possessing the firearms despite prior felony convictions prohibiting him from doing so.
“This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.”
The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Orleans Police Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman from the Narcotics Unit prosecuted the case.
