NEW ORLEANS – In a sweeping crackdown on the city’s opioid epidemic, Tyrone Smothers, 42, of New Orleans, has been sentenced to 102 months imprisonment for violating federal controlled substances and gun control acts. Smothers was found guilty of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Smothers was previously convicted of felony offenses in Orleans Parish, making him ineligible to possess a firearm. However, he was caught with multiple firearms, as well as fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana with the intent to distribute.
The investigation into Smothers’ activities was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department, with the assistance of the Violent Crime Unit. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James Ollinger praised the work of the investigators, stating that the case is a prime example of the Department’s commitment to reducing violent crime and gun violence in New Orleans.
Smothers’ sentence is part of the Department’s ongoing effort to combat the opioid crisis through the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. This initiative brings together law enforcement agencies and community organizations to identify and address the root causes of violence and crime.
The PSN program is built on four core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in communities, supporting community-based organizations that prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. By addressing the underlying issues driving crime, the Department aims to create safer neighborhoods for all citizens.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Evans commended the work of the investigators and prosecutors involved in the case, saying that their efforts have made New Orleans safer for everyone. With Smothers’ sentence, the city takes another step towards eradicating the opioid epidemic and reducing gun violence.
RELATED: NOLA Woman Gets 3.5 Years for Kidnap & Ransom Scheme
RELATED: 77-Year-Old Ran Fentanyl Empire From NOLA Homes
Related Federal Cases
- 77-Year-Old Ran Fentanyl Empire From NOLA Homes · Louisiana
- Dan Pizarro Gets Life for Heroin, Meth Conspiracy in New Orleans · Louisiana
- New Orleans Man Clark McAlpin Gets 10 Years for Meth Conspiracy · Louisiana
- Duke Gets 24 Years for Poisoning Monroe with Fentanyl · Louisiana
- New Orleans Duo Indicted for Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Gun Charges · Louisiana
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Drug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug Trafficking