Man Pleads Guilty To Obstruction Of Justice and Violations of Federal Firearms and Narcotics Laws

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that KENDALL BARNES, age 23, of New Orleans, pled guilty on December 17, 2019 to a superseding bill of information charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, to possession with the intent to distribute heroin, to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and to obstruction of justice.

According to court documents, on or about February 19, 2018, KENDALL BARNES placed a recorded jail call directing another individual to move a firearm and ten bags of heroin from a hidden location.  United States District Court Judge Gregory Guidry set sentencing in this matter for April 7, 2020.

KENDALL BARNES faces a term of imprisonment of up to ten years, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  For the possession with the intent to distribute heroin count, BARNES faces a maximum term of 20 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release. For possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime, BARNES faces a minimum term of imprisonment of five years up to a maximum of life, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release.  For the obstruction of justice count, BARNES faces up to ten years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation New Orleans Violent Crimes Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni is in charge of the prosecution.