New Orleans Men Indicted For Federal Drug and Firearm Violations (DOJ)

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on August 7, 2025, YUAN BUGGAGE ("BUGGAGE), age 25, of New Orleans, and ALGERNON JACQUES ("JACQUES"), age 25, also of New Orleans, were charged in a recently unsealed six-count indictment with violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts.

BUGGAGE and JACQUES are charged in Count 1 with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, Tapentadol and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D), and 846. BUGGAGE and JACQUES are charged in Count 2 with possession with intent to distribute those substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D). In Count 3, BUGGAGE and JACQUES are charged with possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). In Count 4, BUGGAGE is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).

According to court documents, beginning no later than March 31, 2025, and continuing to on or about April 24, 2025, BUGGAGE, and JACQUES, conspired, with others to distribute, and to possess with the intent to distribute, a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of Tapentadol, a Schedule II controlled substance, and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance. BUGGAGE, and JACQUES also knowingly possessed firearms, a Glock Model 23 Gen 5, .40 caliber pistol, a Glock Model 43X, nine-millimeter pistol, and a Glock Model 23, .40 caliber pistol, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

For the felon in possession count, on or about April, 24, 2025, BUGGAGE, knowing he had a previous felony conviction, illegally, possessed firearms, a Glock Model 23 Gen 5, .40 caliber pistol; a Glock Model 43X, nine-millimeter pistol; and a Glock Model 23, .40 caliber pistol .

As to the drug trafficking conspiracy charge in Count 1, BUGGAGE and JACQUES face up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. As to the drug distribution charge in Count 2, BUGGAGE and JACQUES face up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. As to the charge of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in Count 3, BUGGAGE and JACQUES face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life imprisonment, to run consecutively to all other sentences, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. As to the felon in possession charge in Count 4, BUGGAGE faces up to 15 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.

Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New Orleans Police Department, and St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the Violent Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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