Kennelius Brown, age 36, pleaded guilty on April 16 before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced on Apr. 22.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address drug trafficking and firearms offenses in Southeast Louisiana. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana enforces federal laws and prosecutes criminal cases according to the official website.
Court documents show that Brown was charged along with co-defendants in a multi-count superseding indictment involving narcotics trafficking and firearms violations from late 2022 until May of 2023. The indictment states that Brown distributed fentanyl throughout the New Orleans area and possessed marijuana, cocaine, and fentanyl during this period. Loaded firearms were reportedly found near the controlled substances during the investigation.
Brown is scheduled for sentencing on August 5, where he faces a mandatory minimum of five years imprisonment up to forty years for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances under Title 21 of the United States Code, as well as up to fifteen years imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm under Title 18 statutes.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, which uses resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) initiatives to combat illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Mike Trummel is handling prosecution duties for the Violent Crime Unit.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana covers Southeast Louisiana according to its official website. The office enhances community safety through law enforcement efforts according to its official website and operates under appointment by the President with Senate approval according to its official website. As chief federal law enforcement officer for this district according to its official website, it handles both criminal prosecutions and civil matters.
