NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Wayne Handy, 29, of New Orleans, is staring down a potential life sentence after admitting to peddling poison and illegally possessing firearms. Handy pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to federal charges stemming from a spring 2021 investigation that exposed a dangerous operation.
The bust began with a series of controlled purchases by an FBI confidential source, according to court records. Handy repeatedly sold heroin/fentanyl to the informant, quickly raising red flags. This led to a federal complaint and subsequent searches of Handy’s residences and vehicles. What agents found wasn’t a small-time operation: approximately $120,000 in cash, two guns, and roughly a kilogram of pure fentanyl.
Handy admitted to possessing with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A). He also confessed to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, a clear breach of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). The feds didn’t mess around – they built a solid case.
Judge Barbier has scheduled sentencing for May 25, 2023. The drug charge carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, stretching up to a lifetime behind bars. He also faces up to a $10,000,000 fine and at least five years of supervised release. The gun charge isn’t a slap on the wrist either – a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release are on the table.
On top of potential decades in prison and massive fines, Handy will be required to pay a $100 special assessment fee for each count. The investigation was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, with Assistant United States Attorney David Haller of the Violent Crime Unit handling the prosecution. Haller’s team built a case that left Handy with little room to maneuver.
This case is another stark reminder that the flow of fentanyl into New Orleans – and across the country – carries deadly consequences. The Grimy Times will continue to track this case and report on the sentencing, as well as other federal crimes impacting our communities. It’s a grim business, but somebody has to shine a light on the darkness.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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