Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

NEW ORLEANS — Darren Flowers, 25, of Metairie, pleaded guilty on Jan. 3 before U.S. District Judge Jane T. Milazzo to federal drug and weapons violations.

Specifically, Flowers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, U.S. Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D), and 846; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, in violation of Title 21, U.S. Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).

According to court documents, on Janu.6, 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted surveillance in the 500 block of N. Elm Street in Metairie. Flowers was observed selling drugs, both individually and with his co-conspirators, to customers who arrived in the area. When JPSO detectives made contact with Flowers, he fled and discarded a loaded Ruger nine-millimeter semi-automatic handgun during the chase. When Flowers was apprehended, he had six rocks of cocaine base and $855 in cash in his pockets.

As to his convictions for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances, Flowers faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000 and a minimum of three years of supervised release on each count. As to his conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Flowers faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life in prison, which is to run consecutively to all other sentences, up to a $250,000 fine and up to five years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

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 of Justice 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.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.

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