Darren Sharper -- Rape Arrest Warrant Issued in New Orleans

Darren Sharper is in BIG trouble in the Big Easy -- A New Orleans judge just issued a warrant for Sharper's arrest for allegedly raping 2 women.

New Orleans Sex Crimes detectives claim there's strong evidence Sharper and an acquaintance raped 2 women on Sept. 23. The rapes allegedly occurred in an apartment.

If convicted, Sharper will get life in prison with hard labor ... with no possibility of parole.

The New Orleans Saints safety faces a mound of legal problems. The L.A. County D.A. has charged him with 2 counts of rape by use of drugs, 4 counts of furnishing of a controlled substance and 1 count of possession of a controlled substance -- all felonies.

And there are rape investigations underway in Arizona, Florida and Nevada.