Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

NEW ORLEANS — Ryan Negrotto, aka “WHITE BOY,” age 43, of New Orleans, was sentenced on Jan. 4 by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to 255 months incarceration after previously pleading guilty to eight counts of the superseding indictment pending against him. Judge Fallon also ordered that Negrotto be placed on supervised release for five years following release from imprisonment and pay a mandatory $100 assessment special assessment fee as to each count.

Count 1 charged Negrotto with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S. Code § 841(a)(1) and 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(b)(1)(A), and 846. Count 2 charged Negrotto with distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(B), and 18 U.S.C. § 2. Count 3 charged Negrotto with distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A) and 18 U.S.C § 2. Count 4 charged Negrotto with distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A) and 18 U.S.C § 2. Counts 5 and 7 charged Negrotto with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C § 924(c)(1)(A)(i). Count 6 charged Negrotto with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). Count 8 charged Negrotto with using or maintaining a drug premises, in violation of 21 U.S.C § 856(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C § 2.

According to public records, prior to March 2, 2021, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was informed that a New Orleans motorcycle shop harbored drug dealers. ATF used a Confidential Informant (CI) who both visited the shop numerous times, saw drug sales occurring and heard discussions about other drug sales. The CI learned that Negrotto was the co-renter of the shop.

On separate occasions in March 2021, Negrotto sold methamphetamine to a CI, one sale of which totaled over 300 grams, and also provided prices for future purchases. In May 2021, Negrotto sold over 400 grams of methamphetamine to a CI.

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.

The case was investigated by the ATF, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit handled the prosecution.

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