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NEW ORLEANS, LA – Renard Santiago, 19, of New Orleans, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for a series of firearm and drug trafficking offenses, including possession of a machinegun and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
The sentence was handed down on May 13, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter. Santiago was also ordered to pay a $400 mandatory special assessment fee.
Santiago previously pleaded guilty to:
- Conspiracy to distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(D), and 846;
- Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i);
- Possession of a machinegun, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(o) and 924(a)(2).
Surveillance Footage and Social Media Evidence
According to court documents, Santiago was wanted by the FBI and the New Orleans Police Department in connection with an October 10, 2023 armed robbery. On December 25, 2023, surveillance footage captured Santiago firing a handgun equipped with a drum magazine before fleeing the scene in a stolen SUV.
Investigators later found Santiago’s social media accounts displaying:
- A handgun modified with a machinegun conversion device
- Large sums of cash
- Promotional content advertising marijuana sales
Arrest and Evidence Recovered
On December 26, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Santiago’s residence. He hid in the attic for four hours before being apprehended.
Inside the attic, agents recovered:
- A handgun outfitted with a machinegun conversion device
- A distributable amount of marijuana
- Over $400 in cash
Part of Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative
This case was prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a nationwide program that coordinates federal, state, and local efforts to combat violent crime and gun violence. Relaunched in 2021, PSN focuses on community trust, prevention, focused enforcement, and measurable outcomes to improve public safety.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
