A New Orleans man has been sentenced for federal gun and drug charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of Louisiana announced in a press release today. Derick Gettridge, 27, received a 63 months prison term following his earlier guilty plea to counts of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Stopped originally for traffic violations, the New Orleans Police Department discovered scales, baggies, and two Glock pistols during a vehicle search, which Gettridge admitted were for his narcotics trafficking operations. The sentencing took place on December 17, 2024, where U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long handed down the judgment comprising a 3 month sentence for the drug charge, and consecutively, a 60-month sentence for the firearm offense.
Judge Long additionally mandated a 4-year term of supervised release for Gettridge after his incarceration and imposed a $200 special assessment fee. The cash sum of $892.00 was also found in Gettridge's pocket during his arrest, as reported in the indictment.
This case is part of the federally supported Project Safe Neighborhoods, an initiative which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence, fostering trust in communities that help prevent such incidents from happening to begin with. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their work on the case, mentioning that Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell of the Violent Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
