Drug Offender Pleads Guilty in Federal Court

NEW ORLEANS—Steve A. White, age 35, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today in federal court to conspiring to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

White pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk to the offense. The defendant entered into a plea agreement, of which Judge Africk deferred his decision to accept. Should Judge Aftick accept the agreement, White will receive a sentence of between 262 and 300 months’ imprisonment.

According to court documents, the New Orleans Gang Task Force, made up of law enforcement agencies and headed up by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, had been investigating the trafficking of heroin in the New Orleans area. Agents identified White and co-conspirator Jerome Tumblin as suspects. After using a confidential informant to make three purchases of heroin from Tumblin, who obtained the heroin originally from White, agents conducted surveillance of White near his residence at 4926 Arts Street. With knowledge that White was about to distribute more heroin to Tumblin, on September 27, 2011, agents stopped White near his residence while he was en route to meet Tumblin. White had four ounces of heroin on him, which he intended to give to Tumblin.

In addition to pleading guilty to the conspiracy, White admitted that he had previously been convicted in Orleans Parish for possession of crack in 1994 and possession with intent to distribute crack in 2004, as well as two counts of distribution of cocaine in Jefferson Parish in 1996.

White was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2010, along with co-defendant Tumblin. Tumblin previously pleaded guilty to the conspiracy count as well.

This case was investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with members of the New Orleans Gang Task Force, which includes officers and deputies from the New Orleans Police Department and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin G. Boitmann and Harry W. McSherry.