U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
Federal Jury Convicts Texas Men in Drug Conspiracy
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that a federal jury convicted JORGE PERRALTA, age 33, of Pasadena, Texas, and PAUL NORRIS, age 57, of Houston, Texas, of a drug conspiracy charge, following a four-day trial.
PERRALTA and NORRIS were convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and heroin. According to the Indictment, beginning on a date unknown and continuing until on or about March 19, 2015, PERRALTA and NORRIS knowingly combined, conspired, confederated and agreed with persons known and unknown, to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride and one kilogram or more of heroin.
The convictions of PERRALTA and NORRIS followed an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Houston, Texas Police Department of a drug trafficking organization operating from Mexico into several of the United States, including Louisiana.
Both PERRALTA and NORRIS face a minimum term of imprisonment of ten years, a maximum term of life imprisonment, a fine of $10,000,000, a minimum of five years of supervised release after imprisonment, and a $100.00 special assessment. U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk set sentencing for May 19, 2016.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New Orleans and Houston, Texas along with the Houston Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Andre’ Jones, Elizabeth Privitera, and Jeffrey Sandman were in charge of the prosecution.
Updated January 28, 2016
Topic
Drug Trafficking
Component