Arizona Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JOANNA MANZANO, age 34, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced on January 24, 2024 by United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to three years’ probation and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841 (b)(1)(C), and 846, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court documents, on March 16, 2020, a drug supplier contacted a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) undercover agent to arrange the delivery of methamphetamine to the New Orleans area.  On March 19, 2020, the supplier informed the agent that a driver, later identified as  MANZANO, was travelling from Phoenix, Arizona to New Orleans with the methamphetamine and needed  money for expenses.  The supplier also informed the  agent that the methamphetamine was in liquid form and that another individual would arrive in New Orleans  later  to convert the liquid methamphetamine into a solid . 

After MANZANO and her accomplice arrived in Louisiana, law enforcement officers identified MANZANO’S vehicle and maintained surveillance on them until they arrived in Metairie.  On March 20, 2020, Louisiana State Troopers stopped MANZANO. After obtaining consent to search the vehicle, troopers  discovered  approximately 4, 576 grams of liquid methamphetamine in the gas tank of the vehicle. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Louisiana State Police.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.