U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that LEJEUNE HARRIS, age 43, of New Orleans, pled guilty today to one count of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more heroin, and one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more heroin.
According to court records, law enforcement officers found four packages of heroin weighing one kilogram in total during a traffic stop of a Fiat on Interstate-10 East in Calcasieu Parish. The driver admitted that she had been paid $1,000 in cash to drive the heroin from LARRY DUPOR in Houston to HARRIS at a car wash in New Orleans East. The driver stated that she had made similar trips before to deliver heroin between DUPOR and HARRIS, and she agreed to assist law enforcement by following through with a delivery of ‘sham’ heroin to HARRIS. The driver was instructed by DUPOR to deliver three of the four heroin packages to HARRIS, and she proceeded to the car wash in New Orleans East under law enforcement surveillance with three ‘sham’ packages. There she was met by HARRIS, who took the ‘sham’ packages weighing approximately 750 kilograms in total and then handed the driver $2,000 in cash. HARRIS entered the car wash office, and surveillance agents then entered the scene and detained HARRIS. Agents obtained a search warrant for the car wash office and recovered an additional 479 grams of heroin in a hidden area where the three packages of ‘sham’ heroin were also found.
HARRIS faces a term of imprisonment of at least 20 years and up to life for the conspiracy charge, due in part to a prior felony drug conviction. U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo set sentencing on November 10, 2016. DUPOR is scheduled for re-arraignment before Judge Milazzo on August 25, 2016.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Michael B. Redmann is in charge of the prosecution.