Destrehan Man Pleads Guilty in Heroin Trafficking Conspiracy

Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that KENNETH HARRIS, age 41, of Destrehan, pled guilty yesterday to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

HARRIS was one of eight defendants charged in a 21-count Superseding Indictment on September 18, 2015. According to court documents, this Superseding Indictment resulted from an FBI investigation into a heroin-trafficking organization operating primarily around Loyola Avenue and Harmony Street in Central City, New Orleans. The sources of heroin for this organization traveled via Megabus from Houston to New Orleans, carrying half-kilogram quantities of heroin for distribution in the New Orleans area. HARRIS was the last of the eight defendants to plead guilty.

Due HARRIS’ prior felony drug conviction, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a maximum life sentence, a possible fine of up to $8,000,000, and at least 8 years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier will sentence HARRIS on August 24, 2017.

Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the FBI New Orleans Gang Task Force (NOGTF), Saint Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Long is in charge of the prosecution.