Redis McGary, Heroin Trafficking, Louisiana 2024

Redis McGary, 53, of Tangipahoa Parish, is facing federal charges for heroin trafficking and illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon. The two-count Bill of Information, unsealed in New Orleans, marks the latest escalation in a federal crackdown on drug-fueled gun crime across southeastern Louisiana.

McGARY is charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin, a violation of the Federal Controlled Substances Act. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and up to 40 years behind bars, a fine of $5,000,000, and four years of supervised release. The second count—being a felon in possession of firearms—carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser confirmed the charges, emphasizing that the Bill of Information is a formal accusation, not a conviction. “The guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” Strasser stated, underscoring the burden of proof in federal court. No trial date has been set.

The investigation was a joint operation involving the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Hammond Police Department—agencies that have intensified collaboration amid rising narcotics activity in the region. Authorities say evidence collected during the probe supports both the drug and weapons charges.

Assistant United States Attorney Bayonle Osundare is leading the prosecution. Court records do not yet reveal whether McGARY is in custody or when he will appear before a federal magistrate. His criminal history, which underpins the firearms charge, has not been fully disclosed.

This case reflects the federal government’s ongoing push to target repeat offenders who traffic narcotics while armed. With heroin still plaguing communities across Louisiana, law enforcement is treating cases like McGARY’s as high-priority threats to public safety.

Related Federal Cases