NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)), published as received.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that HENRY MITCHELL (“MITCHELL”), age 35, and JAYLAN WASHINGTON (“WASHINGTON”), age 30, both residents of New Orleans, were sentenced on July 22, 2025, by United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry pursuant to their pleas of guilty to federal drug and gun charges. Listed below are the charges to which each Defendant pled guilty, and the sentence received:
CHARGE | DEFENDANT | SENTENCE |
| Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute marihuana, Fentanyl, tapentadol and tramadol (21 U.S.C. § 846) | MITCHELL | 151 months, 3 years of supervised release |
| Possession With Intent to Distribute marihuana, Fentanyl, tapentadol and tramadol (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) & (b)(1)(C)) | MITCHELL | 151 months, 3 years of supervised release |
| Felon in Possession of a Firearm (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)) | MITCHELL | 151 months, 3 years of supervised release |
| Possession of a Machine Gun (18 U.S.C. § Section 922(o)) | MITCHELL | 120 months, 3 years of supervised release |
| Possession of a Machine Gun (18 U.S.C. § 922(o)) | MITCHELL | 120 months, 3 years of supervised release |
| Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute marihuana, Fentanyl, tapentadol and tramadol (21 U.S.C. § 846) | WASHINGTON | 120 months, 3 years of supervised release |
| Possession with Intent to Distribute marihuana, and tapentadol (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C) | WASHINGTON | 120 months, 3 years of supervised release |
| Felon in Possession of a Firearm (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)) | WASHINGTON | 120 months, 3 years of supervised release |
| Possession of a Machine Gun (18 U.S.C. § 922(o)) | WASHINGTON | 120 months, 3 years of supervised release |
All sentences were ordered to run concurrently with each other. Judge Guidry also ordered MITCHELL to pay $500.00 in mandatory special assessment fees and ordered WASHINGTON to pay $400 in mandatory special assessment fees.
Court documents reflect that MITCHELL and WASHINGTON were openly selling various controlled substance in the Plum Orchard Neighborhood of New Orleans. Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crime Task Force Officers (TFO) observed this activity after receiving multiple citizen complaints. The TFOs notified New Orleans Police Department Officers who surrounded the area and arrested MITCHELL and WASHINGTON. A search of their vehicles revealed both controlled substances and firearms. Officers also recovered “Glock switches” that convert semiautomatic weapons into fully automatic ones. These switches are considered machineguns under federal law. Additionally, both MITCHELL and WASHINGTON have several prior felony convictions including ones for violation of drug and firearm laws.
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 case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crime Task Force, and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller of the Narcotics Unit is assigned the prosecution.
