Ninth Ward Heroin Dealer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Charge

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that COREY CELESTINE, age 33, pled guilty today to participating in a heroin distribution conspiracy in the lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. CELESTINE pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin.

According to court documents, CELESTINE conspired with ULYESSE SANTIAGO, CLARENCE PETER SANTIAGO, DWAYNE SMOTHERS, and others to sell heroin near Bonart Park in New Orleans’ lower Ninth Ward. During the course of this investigation, agents performed several controlled purchases of heroin from CELESTINE, and he was subsequently arrested with $13,000 in cash. The investigation, led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, began in 2013 and resulted in the arrest of ten individuals in New Orleans, Terrebonne Parish, Jefferson Parish, and Texas.

CELESTINE faces a minimum of 10 years of imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000 and at least five years of supervised release. His codefendants, ULYESSE SANTIAGO, CLARENCE PETER SANTIAGO, and DWAYNE SMOTHERS, have all previously entered guilty pleas in this matter. All three codefendants are scheduled for sentencing on February 22, 2017. U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman set sentencing for CELESTINE on May 17, 2017.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the DEA New Orleans Division Office, along with the assistance from the FBI New Orleans Field Office, the New Orleans Police Department, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisiana State Police in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Payne is in charge of the prosecution.