Two men from southeast Louisiana have admitted their roles in a sprawling methamphetamine distribution ring that flooded local streets with high-potency drugs. Melvin Steen, a/k/a “SKEET,” 35, of Slidell, and Ryan Ellelder, 36, of New Orleans, pled guilty today to one count of conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, federal prosecutors confirmed.
The guilty pleas mark the latest fallout from a multi-agency crackdown led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service. According to court documents, Steen and Ellelder coordinated shipments and sales across St. Tammany and Orleans Parishes, operating under the radar until surveillance and informant intelligence cracked the case wide open.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Steen now faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and no less than three years of supervised release upon completion of any sentence. His fate rests with U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance, who will preside over sentencing on April 19, 2017.
Ellelder, meanwhile, entered into a Rule 11(c)(1)(C) plea deal that recommends a sentence of between one and five years of supervised release. Such agreements bind the court only if accepted, and Judge Vance will have final say on whether to honor its terms. The plea suggests cooperation or a lesser role, though federal prosecutors aren’t elaborating yet.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite, who oversees the Eastern District of Louisiana, praised the investigative rigor that dismantled the operation. “This conviction is a direct hit to the networks fueling the opioid and meth crisis in our communities,” Polite said in a statement. “We’re not just arresting dealers—we’re dismantling supply chains.”
Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Long is prosecuting the case. With sentencing three months out, federal authorities indicate more charges could follow as the investigation continues to peel back layers of the drug ring’s operations.
Related Federal Cases
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- Lockport Man Pleads Guilty in Meth Trafficking Conspiracy · Louisiana
- Dan Pizarro Gets Life for Heroin, Meth Conspiracy in New Orleans · Louisiana
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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