A New Orleans man, Talya Smith, age 29, has been indicted for a range of federal drug and weapons offenses, according to a press release from the United States Attorney's Office. The indictment, which dropped on Thursday, accuses Smith of possessing illegal substances with the intent to distribute, as well as several firearm-related charges.
Smith is facing the possibility of heavy penalties for his alleged crimes. In Count 1, for possessing with intent to distribute tapentadol and marijuana, the man could be sentenced to serve up to twenty years in prison. This charge also carries the potential for a $1,000,000 fine. Moreover, Smith is charged with possessing a firearm specifically to actively help in a drug trafficking crime, a charge that mandates a minimum of five years and can extend to a life sentence on top of any other time given, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The indictment details Smith's alleged crimes took place around March 31, 2024. Court documents allege Smith had possession of tapentadol and marijuana with intent to distribute. Along with these charges, it is claimed Smith owned a Glock Model 23, .40 caliber handgun with an attached conversion device that qualifies it as a machinegun. Making matters more complicated, Smith, having prior felony convictions makes possessing any firearm or ammunition a federal offense on its own.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans stressed that despite the charges, Smith's guilt must still be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a national initiative aiming to reduce violent crime, which since 2021 has tried to focus enforcement strategically and foster trust in communities they police.
This case was jointly investigated by the New Orleans Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Kennedy heading the prosecution. Smith's indictment arrives as law enforcement continues to grapple with both drug-related crimes and illegal firearm possession across the nation.
