Evergreen Reporter

Mark Williams, a 22-year-old resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on June 25, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to 66 months in prison. The sentence also includes three years of supervised release and a $300 mandatory special assessment fee. Williams had previously pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute tapentadol and marijuana, as well as possession with intent to distribute these substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Court documents reveal that on May 17, 2023, the FBI executed a search at the residence of Williams's mother. Both Williams and his brother, Jonathan Gonzalez—who is also a co-defendant in this case—were present at the location. They were found with loaded firearms and quantities of tapentadol pills and marijuana intended for distribution.

This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and community organizations. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a strategy to strengthen PSN based on principles such as fostering community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman from the Violent Crime Unit.