Evergreen Reporter

Ladonte Richardson, a 22-year-old resident of New Orleans, has pled guilty to the possession of a machinegun. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson on February 13, 2025.

Richardson is facing a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, a fine up to $250,000, three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.

Court records reveal that on August 29, 2023, Richardson posted a photo on his Instagram page with train emojis and a cellphone emoji. Investigators interpreted this as an advertisement for selling Tapentadol pills, commonly known as "trains." On September 7, 2023, he posted another drug-related advertisement. These posts led to an FBI Task Force Officer obtaining a search warrant for Richardson's Instagram account on September 8, 2023. The account showed Richardson possessing firearms. Specifically, he live-streamed himself brandishing a firearm with a laser sight on September 17, 2023.

An arrest warrant was issued for Richardson on September 21, 2023, related to two counts of second-degree murder from December 7, 2022. U.S. Marshals arrested him in New Orleans. A search of his residence uncovered the same firearm seen in his Instagram post; it was equipped with a switch and was reported stolen.

Richardson admitted to possessing the firearm and knowing it was a machine gun.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a strategy to strengthen PSN based on fostering trust in communities and supporting organizations that prevent violence.

The investigation involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Trummel from the Violent Crime Unit is prosecuting the case.