U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that THOMAS BROWN, age 45, of New Orleans, pled guilty as charged today to a Bill of Information charging one count of possession with intent to distribute acetyl fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and a second count of possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to court records, in June 2015, while Drug Enforcement Administration agents were buying heroin undercover from an unnamed trafficker, they observed BROWN arrive on the scene and appear to supply heroin to the targeted trafficker. After further investigation, agents obtained and executed a search warrant BROWN’s residence and found 188 grams of acetyl fentanyl, 66 grams of heroin, 150 grams of cocaine hydrochloride, and 17.9 grams of marijuana. Most of the narcotics seized were found secreted in a void between a furnace and a wall in a hallway closet, and the drugs had been packaged for sale. Agents also located near the narcotics a loaded .45 caliber pistol, a .38 caliber revolver, and a loaded 20-guage shotgun.
U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan scheduled sentencing for June 15, 2016. BROWN faces a sentence of imprisonment of up to twenty years for the narcotics charge and sentence of at least five years and up to life for the firearms charge.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the New Orleans Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Michael B. Redmann is in charge of the prosecution.