Federal Grand Jury Indicts Man for Drug and Weapons Violations

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on September 9, 2021, RANDY FIELDS, age 30, resident of Orleans Parish, was charged in a four-count sealed indictment for alleged drug and gun violations.  These violations occurred on March 31, 2021.  In Count 1 of the indictment, FIELDS is charged with possession with intent to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl.  Count 2 charges FIELDS with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.  Count 3 charges FIELDS with being a felon in possession of a firearm and Count 4 charges him with possessing a machine gun.  The indictment was unsealed on December 10, 2021

In Count 1 of the indictment, FIELDS is charged with possession with the intent to distribute 40 or more grams of fentanyl in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B)(vi).  If convicted, FIELDS faces a maximum sentence of up to 40 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.  In Count 2, FIELDS is charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1).  If convicted, FIELDS faces a mandatory minimum sentence of up to 5 years to life imprisonment, to be run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to 5 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.  In Count 3, FIELDS is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).  If convicted, FIELDS faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.  Finally, in Count 4, FIELDS is charged with being in possession of a machine gun in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2).  If convicted, FIELDS faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. 

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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 Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case     is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office.