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Heroin Dealer Pleads Guilty in Lower Ninth Ward Conspiracy
A 33-year-old man from New Orleans’ lower Ninth Ward has pleaded guilty to his role in a massive heroin distribution conspiracy. Corey Celestine, 33, entered a guilty plea in federal court to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin.
Celestine conspired with at least four others, including Ulyesse Santiago, Clarence Peter Santiago, and Dwayne Smothers, to sell heroin in the area around Bonart Park in the lower Ninth Ward. Over the course of the investigation, agents made several controlled purchases of heroin from Celestine, and he was eventually arrested with $13,000 in cash.
The investigation, which began in 2013, involved the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI New Orleans Field Office, the New Orleans Police Department, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisiana State Police. The probe resulted in the arrest of 10 individuals across four parishes and one state.
Celestine faces a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment, as well as 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 pleaded guilty in the matter and are set to be sentenced on February 22, 2017.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite praised the work of the DEA New Orleans Division Office and its partners in investigating the heroin conspiracy. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Payne is in charge of the prosecution.
Celestine’s sentencing is set for May 17, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman. The guilty plea is the latest development in a case that highlights the ongoing struggle against heroin trafficking in New Orleans.
As the city continues to grapple with the opioid epidemic, the guilty plea serves as a reminder of the serious consequences faced by those involved in heroin distribution. The case is a testament to the hard work and dedication of law enforcement agencies in the region.
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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