NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced today that ANDREW ANDERSON, age 38, a resident of LaPlace, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on September 23, 2019 to a three-count Superseding Bill of Information.  In Count One, ANDERSON pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a quantity of heroin, cocaine base, and cocaine hydrochloride. In Count Two, ANDERSON pled guilty to possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.  In Count Three, ANDERSON pled guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammunitions. 

The Honorable District Court Judge Lance Africk will sentence ANDERSON on January 8, 2020. ANDERSON faces a maximum sentence of up to twenty years of imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release not less than three years, and a mandatory assessment fee of $100.00, as it relates to Count One. For Count Two, ANDERSON faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years of imprisonment, to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed by the court, a fine up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release up to five years, and a mandatory assessment fee of $100.00. As it relates to Count Three, ANDERSON faces a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release up to three years, and a mandatory assessment fee of $100.00.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safe for everyone. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany L. Reed is in charge of the prosecution.

 

 

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that ANDREW ANDERSON, age 38, a resident of LaPlace, Louisiana, was charged in a three-count indictment by a federal grand jury on May 31, 2019.  In count one, ANDERSON is charged with possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a quantity of heroin. In count two, ANDERSON is charged with possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.  In count three, ANDERSON is charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. 

According to court records, on May 22, 2019, DEA agents and St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies, executed a federal search warrant at ANDERSON’s residence in Laplace, Louisiana. During the search, agents found one AK-47, and three handguns, all of which were fully loaded. Agents also located multiple plastic bags of substances suspected to be crack cocaine and heroin, which were packaged for distribution.

If convicted of count one, ANDERSON, faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years of imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release not less than 3 years, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.  For count two, ANDERSON faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed by the court, a fine up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release up to 5 years, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. As to count three, ANDERSON faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release up to 3 years, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.

U. S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.  

U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany L. Reed is in charge of the prosecution.

 

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