Dustin Dinet, Crack Cocaine and Heroin Distribution, Louisiana 2019

NEW ORLEANS, LA – The Dinet brothers are facing serious time after admitting to peddling poison in the New Orleans area. DUSTIN DINET, 32, of New Orleans, and his brother, STEVEN DINET, 44, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, entered guilty pleas today to a federal conspiracy charge involving the distribution of crack cocaine and heroin. U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced the development, signaling a major hit to a local drug operation.

Court documents reveal the Dinet brothers weren’t small-time players. They confessed to working together to flood the streets with crack and heroin. The pair allegedly completed three separate sales of one ounce of crack cocaine each to an undercover informant. But the scope of their operation extended beyond those deals. Authorities say a raid on a Marrero, Louisiana residence turned up approximately ¼ kilogram of heroin and a staggering $78,000 in cash – all linked directly to the brothers.

The feds aren’t messing around. Each Dinet brother is looking at a mandatory minimum of five years behind bars, with a potential maximum sentence of forty years. If convicted, they’ll also be subject to at least four years of supervised release after serving their time, and could be slapped with a fine of up to $5 million, plus a $100 special assessment. Sentencing is scheduled for July 25, 2019, before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo.

This case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative aimed at slashing violent crime. PSN isn’t about just arrests; it’s about bringing together law enforcement, community leaders, and prevention programs to tackle the root causes of crime and ensure lasting reductions in violence. The Dinet brothers’ operation clearly threatened public safety, making them a prime target for this program.

U.S. Attorney Strasser was quick to commend the collaborative effort of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, whose combined investigation brought the Dinet brothers to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Haller is leading the prosecution, promising to build a solid case and secure a hefty punishment for the convicted drug dealers.

The streets of Marrero, and beyond, are a little safer today. The Dinet brothers’ days of dealing are over, and they’ll have plenty of time to reflect on their choices from a federal prison cell. This bust sends a clear message: trafficking dangerous drugs in Louisiana will not be tolerated. Expect continued pressure from federal authorities to dismantle similar operations and bring those responsible to account.

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