NEW ORLEANS, LA – Annice Falkins, a 35-year-old resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on August 24, 2021, to laundering more than $118,000 of her partner’s heroin proceeds by purchasing a home in New Orleans East that they then shared.
Falkins is facing up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a possible fine of up to $250,000, and at least three years of supervised release upon her release from prison for violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 1957(a).
Falkins’ partner, Arthur Johnson, is a heroin dealer. Johnson pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute more than 1 kilogram of heroin and agreed to forfeit six pieces of diamond-encrusted jewelry, including a Rolex watch, purchased with drug proceeds.
According to court records, on April 6, 2016, Falkins purchased a home in New Orleans with 14 cashier checks, all for less than $10,000. These 14 cashier checks totaled approximately $118,226.51. Falkins purchased these cashier checks with funds that she knew Johnson had earned from selling heroin.
Falkins bought these cashier checks and then used them on April 6, 2016, with the intent to advance Johnson’s heroin activities. Falkins also conducted these transactions – the purchase of the cashier checks and the New Orleans property – in a knowing effort to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of some of the proceeds of Johnson’s heroin-selling activities and to evade reporting requirements under federal and state law.
Pursuant to her guilty plea, Falkins agreed to forfeit to the United States a 2017 Mercedes Benz and real estate property in Davenport, Florida, which she bought after Johnson was arrested. The Mercedes and the Florida home were purchased with profits from Johnson’s heroin sales.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the work of the FBI’s New Orleans Gang Task Force in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys David Howard Sinkman and Brandon Long are in charge of the prosecution. U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan will sentence Falkins and Johnson on December 1, 2021.
Related Federal Cases
- Annice Falkins, Heroin Proceeds Laundering, Louisiana 2021 · Florida
- LANCE M. VALLO, Wire Fraud and Money Laundering, Louisiana 2023 · Louisiana
- Michelle Alvarado, Money Laundering, Louisiana 2024 · Georgia
- Pensacola Duo Hit with Wire Fraud, Money Laundering Charges · Georgia
- Carl Alan Zaglin, Bribery and Money Laundering, Georgia 2026 · Georgia
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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