Arizona Man Arrested After Traveling From Arizona to New Orleans on Amtrak Train with Heroin Was Sentenced To 52 Months’ Imprisonment

NEW ORLEANS – ADRIAN F. DANIEL, 25, a resident of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 to 52 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to the charge of possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin announced U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser. 

According to court documents, on June 11, 2018, a detective with the Amtrak Police Department in New Orleans reviewed the manifests for incoming passengers to the Amtrak Station in New Orleans and noticed DANIEL’S train travel patterns.    In his review, the detective noticed a train reservation for DANIEL, who was travelling one way from Tucson, Arizona to New Orleans then to New York City the following day.  The detective also noticed that DANIEL made the reservation on June 11, 2018, one day prior to the scheduled travel date. The detective’s review of DANIEL’S train travel patterns revealed that beginning in January 2018, DANIEL made multiple train trips from Tucson, Arizona to New Orleans.  The trips were paid for in cash and were usually booked the day before DANIEL’S departure from Tucson.  Also, DANIEL used a different telephone number each time he booked a reservation.

When the train arrived at the station on June 12, 2018, the detective approached DANIEL and asked to speak to him.  DANIEL agreed to speak and became noticeably nervous.  When questioned about his prior train trips, DANIEL lied about the frequency of the trips further arousing suspicions. 

The detective asked to search DANIEL’S bags and DANIEL consented.  Among DANIEL’S belongings were bags containing 1.9 kilograms of heroin.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, and the Amtrak Police Department.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones.