Two Men Sentenced in Federal Court in Louisiana in Connection with Drug Trafficking Activity While Incarcerated, Distribution of Drugs, and Firearm Charges

New Orleans, Louisiana / Los Angeles, California – Two men were sentenced in federal court in Louisiana for their involvement in drug trafficking while incarcerated, distributing drugs, and firearm charges.

On May 15, 2023, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on May 11, 2023, United States District Judge Eldon E. Fallon sentenced Gerard Brown, age 36, of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Edgardo Ruiz, age 30, of Los Angeles, California, for violating the Federal Controlled Substances and the Federal Gun Control Acts, announced.

Brown, according to court documents, conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute substantial amounts of heroin and fentanyl. Brown also pled guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms after DEA officers discovered six firearms at his home during a search warrant execution. Ruiz pled guilty to two counts of using a communications device to further drug trafficking activity while jailed in California at the time of the incident. He admits to using a smuggled smartphone in jail to organize drug deals with Brown.

Brown was sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release by Judge Fallon. Ruiz was sentenced to eight years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release by Judge Fallon. Brown and Ruiz were also forced to pay a $200 obligatory special assessment fee.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve together to minimize violent crime and gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy to strengthen PSN on May 26, 2021, based on the following core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agents investigated this case (DEA). Assistant United States Attorney David Haller of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.