Ronald Kellup, age 77, of New Orleans, pled guilty on March 12 before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to maintaining a drug-involved premises in violation of federal law, according to Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Kellup faces up to twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee at his sentencing scheduled for June 18.
According to the indictment, Kellup and others maintained three residences in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans for packaging and distributing narcotics including fentanyl. The indictment also states that several individuals involved in the conspiracy possessed firearms while furthering the drug trafficking activities.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings together law enforcement agencies and communities with the goal of reducing violent crime and gun violence. The Department launched an updated violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021. The strategy focuses on fostering trust within communities, supporting organizations that work to prevent violence, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.
United States Attorney Courcelle praised the efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and New Orleans Police Department in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot from the Narcotics Unit is handling the prosecution.
