Arizona Man Guilty Of Drug Trafficking Offense

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that CASEY THORNTON (“THORNTON”), age 33, of Phoenix, Arizona pled guilty on May 14, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846.

According to court documents, THORNTON conspired with others to distribute fentanyl in the Eastern District of Louisiana and elsewhere.  On August 17, 2023, THORNTON mailed two packages, using the United States Postal Service in Scottsdale, Arizona, to a co-conspirator in New Orleans.  Each package contained over 500 grams of blue fentanyl pills.  On October 19, 2023, THORNTON mailed two additional packages from Arizona to a co-conspirator in New Orleans.  Each of those packages contained over 500 grams of blue fentanyl pills.

THORNTON faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $ 1,000,000, at least 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at http://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the New Orleans Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit is in charge of the prosecution.

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