Federal Jury Convicts New Orleans Man of Heroin Distribution Charges

June 4, 2010 - KEVIN LEWIS, age 36, a resident of New Orleans, was found guilty yesterday by a federal jury after a two-day trial of conspiracy to distribute heroin and the distribution of heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

The jury heard testimony at trial that LEWIS delivered 4 ½ ounces of heroin to a drug trafficker named James Anderson who then gave the narcotics to a confidential informant (CI) who was working with special agents assigned to the FBI’s local Gang Task Force. Anderson pled guilty to identical charges prior to trial and is awaiting sentencing. The evidence revealed that the CI negotiated the purchase of 4 ½ ounces of heroin from Anderson for $11,000.00. After the CI paid the money to Anderson, Anderson called the LEWIS who arrived later with the heroin. LEWIS gave the heroin to Anderson who then gave the heroin to the informant. Later testing revealed that the heroin had a purity level of 35 percent. Testimony at trial revealed that prior to street level distribution, adulterants are typically added to heroin with this purity level which would double the amount to nine (9) ounces.

LEWIS faces a mandatory minimum term of five (5) years’ imprisonment and a maximum term of imprisonment of forty (40) years, a fine of $2,000,000, and four (4) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment for each count. Sentencing will be set at a later date by United States District Court Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle who presided over the trial. The government has filed a Bill of Information against LEWIS which alleges that he is a prior drug offender. If it is determined he is a prior drug offender, LEWIS faces a mandatory minimum term of ten (10) years’ imprisonment and a maximum term of life imprisonment, a fine of $4,000,000, and eight (8) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment for each count. LEWIS will remain in custody pending sentencing.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with valuable assistance provided by the New Orleans Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Greenfield and Chief of the Organized Crime Strike Force Unit, Mark A. Miller.