NEW ORLEANS – Rodney Offray, 49, of New Orleans, is staring down serious time after pleading guilty to trafficking fentanyl and heroin. The feds say Offray peddled the deadly drugs throughout the city, contributing to the opioid crisis gripping the nation. He entered his plea on December 19 before U.S. District Judge Darrel James Papillion.
The case began in July 2023 when agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) started an investigation into Offray’s narcotics operation. Using a confidential informant and an undercover operative, the ATF orchestrated three controlled buys, ultimately securing 125 grams of a lethal combination of heroin and fentanyl from the defendant. The transactions were enough to build a case, but the real haul came during a raid.
On October 10th, ATF agents descended on Offray’s residence. The search wasn’t just about drugs. They found a semi-automatic rifle alongside a disturbing quantity of narcotics: 85 grams of heroin, 69 grams of cocaine, 120 fentanyl pills, and 13 grams of crack cocaine. The discovery suggests Offray wasn’t just a dealer, but potentially involved in a larger criminal network.
Now, Offray faces a potentially lengthy prison sentence. For the first count, related to the initial distribution, he could receive up to 20 years behind bars, a $1,000,000 fine, and a minimum of three years of supervised release. Counts two and three carry a mandatory minimum of five years, but could land him up to 40 years in prison, along with a $5,000,000 fine and at least four years of supervised release. He’ll also be on the hook for a $100 special assessment fee for each count – a small price to pay considering the devastation caused by his actions.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the guilty plea, framing the case as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN), a federal initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The PSN program focuses on fostering trust with communities and strategically targeting enforcement efforts. This bust appears to be a key component of that strategy, sending a message to those involved in the drug trade.
Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Narcotics Unit is prosecuting the case. The ATF’s New Orleans Field Division led the investigation. While the investigation is complete, the consequences for Offray are just beginning. He’ll likely have ample time to reflect on his choices as he awaits sentencing, and the damage he inflicted on the streets of New Orleans.
Related Federal Cases
- Laquentin Brown, Sex Trafficking Conspiracy, New Orleans LA, 2023 · Illinois
- Austin, Cocaine and Gun Trafficking, Marrero LA, 2023 · Louisiana
- Deborah Fortner Indicted for LRHP Grant Fraud, New Orleans LA, 2007 · Ohio
- Marcus Deshawn Wright Sentenced to Life Terms for Sex Trafficking o… · Louisiana
- Santos Gavarrete-Nataren, Gun Smuggling, New Orleans LA, 2023 · Alabama
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
