NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that ANDREW ANDERSON, age 38, a resident of LaPlace, Louisiana, was charged in a three-count indictment by a federal grand jury on May 31, 2019. In count one, ANDERSON is charged with possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a quantity of heroin. In count two, ANDERSON is charged with possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. In count three, ANDERSON is charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, on May 22, 2019, DEA agents and St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies, executed a federal search warrant at ANDERSON’s residence in Laplace, Louisiana. During the search, agents found one AK-47, and three handguns, all of which were fully loaded. Agents also located multiple plastic bags of substances suspected to be crack cocaine and heroin, which were packaged for distribution.
If convicted of count one, ANDERSON, faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years of imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release not less than 3 years, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. For count two, ANDERSON faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed by the court, a fine up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release up to 5 years, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. As to count three, ANDERSON faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release up to 3 years, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
U. S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany L. Reed is in charge of the prosecution.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
