Terrell Kelley, age 34, was sentenced on July 14 to ninety-seven months in prison by U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan for drug trafficking and firearms violations. Kelley was also ordered to pay a $600 mandatory special assessment fee and will serve a six-year term of supervised release upon his release from imprisonment, according to United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Court documents show that Kelley previously pleaded guilty to three counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. These charges stem from three separate incidents involving narcotics and firearms.
On August 20, 2020, New Orleans Police Department officers attempted to arrest Kelley on an outstanding warrant. After a standoff, Kelley surrendered. A search warrant executed at the residence revealed $10,000 in cash, a Glock pistol with an extended magazine and assorted ammunition, 21 grams of crack cocaine, 8.51 grams of heroin, and 25 Tramadol pills. Due to previous felony convictions, Kelley is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Further incidents occurred on December 16, 2021, when officers observed Kelley conducting multiple hand-to-hand narcotics transactions; evidence recovered included crack cocaine, plastic baggies, and cash consistent with street-level distribution. On February 3, 2023, officers again encountered Kelley, who was found with another handgun along with Tapentadol tablets and cash.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms along with the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Greg Kennedy led the prosecution for the Violent Crime Unit.
Project Safe Neighborhoods is described as the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative bringing together federal prosecutors and law enforcement partners at all levels “to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime,” tailored specifically for each community.