Marrero Narc Boss Hit With 72-Month Sentence

NEW ORLEANS – The grimy streets of Marrero, Louisiana, witnessed a heavy fall for Derris Helton, 37, who was today sentenced to 72 months behind bars for his role in a massive cocaine conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon meted out the sentence after Helton pleaded guilty to a one-count superseding bill of information.

According to court documents, Helton was identified by DEA agents as a cocaine trafficker in 2016. Using a confidential source, agents scored two significant purchases from Helton, totaling over a hundred grams of crack. Wiretaps revealed his network, including his brother Phillip and Robert Gaines.

In a chilling phone conversation, Helton and his sibling plotted with Gaines to supply drugs. The DEA then picked up the trail when Helton, en route from Houston, Texas, was stopped at New Orleans’ Greyhound terminal with 500 grams of cocaine hydrochloride in his luggage.

U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser commended the DEA, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana State Police for their relentless pursuit. Assistant U.S. Attorney André Jones led the prosecution, ensuring justice served for this gritty drug operation.

For Helton, it’s a heavy price to pay for the streets he once roamed with his illegal wares. The sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the consequences that follow when one chooses the dark path of drug trafficking.