New Orleans Man Sentenced to 90 Months for Gun, Fentanyl, and Weed Violations

New Orleans Man Sentenced to 90 Months in Prison for Firearm, Fentanyl, and Pot Possession

New Orleans, LA – In a major blow to the city’s violent crime epidemic, 31-year-old Corey Bessie has been sentenced to 90 months in federal prison for his role in a brazen gun, fentanyl, and marijuana trafficking operation.

On June 11, 2024, U.S. District Judge Darrel James Papillion handed down the sentence, which also includes three years of supervised release and a $200 special assessment fee. Bessie had previously pleaded guilty to charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana, and other related offenses.

According to court documents, the case began on December 24, 2021, when Bessie and two passengers were involved in a shootout on the Westbank Expressway. Law enforcement recovered a bullet-riddled Honda Accord from the hospital parking lot, which contained a stash of marijuana, two loaded handguns, and a large quantity of fentanyl.

Deputies also seized a digital scale, documents showing Bessie’s frequent use of the vehicle, and $1,300 in cash. At the time of the incident, Bessie was a convicted felon, prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the New Orleans Police Department, the Louisiana State Police, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu Jr. handled the prosecution, which is part of the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative.

Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering trust and legitimacy in communities, supporting community-based organizations, and setting focused enforcement priorities. The program has been instrumental in dismantling violent crime operations and making neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Bessie’s 90-month sentence is a significant blow to the city’s violent crime epidemic, and serves as a reminder that those who engage in such activities will face severe consequences. The Grimy Times will continue to provide updates on this and other cases as they develop.

RELATED: Mail Thief Gets Time: Key Cop Nabbed

RELATED: Mail Thief Nabbed with USPS Key