Final Defendant Sentenced in Seventh Ward Heroin and Firearm Conspiracy

Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that STERLING PIPKINS, a/k/a “Shoe,” age 32, of New Orleans, was sentenced yesterday after previously pleading guilty to federal narcotics charges. PIPKINS had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier sentenced PIPKINS to 72 months of imprisonment followed by four years of supervised release.

According to court documents, PIPKINS was a central figure in a conspiracy to sell heroin in New Orleans’ Seventh Ward, specifically the intersection of Frenchmen and North Villere Streets. DARRELL LEWIS was the leader of the group. KEVIN WALKER, CARL LEWIS, and PIPKINS served as street-level dealers, selling heroin to both other heroin dealers and users. Members of the conspiracy also kept and maintained firearms in furtherance of drug dealing.

PIPKINS committed the instant offense while he was supervised release for a prior federal conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon. On May 4, 2017, U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk revoked PIPKINS’ supervised release and sentenced him to 24 months of imprisonment to be served consecutively with the sentence issued by Judge Barbier.

PIPKINS was the final member of this conspiracy to be sentenced. The conspiracy included eleven others who have already been sentenced, including DARRYL LEWIS, KEVIN WALKER, DARRYL LEWIS, CARL LEWIS, MICHAEL MCQUITTY, TYRONE HUDSON, IRVIN WATSON, CONQUISTADORE MARTIN, NICHIREN RADCLIFFE, DEMOINDE ROWLEY, and NERIMANE BOUCHAMA.

Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. Assistance was provided by the DEA New Orleans Field Division, the New Orleans Police Department, the Major Crimes Task Force, the FBI Kansas City Division (Jefferson City Resident Office), and the St. Louis County Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Payne, Shirin Hakimzadeh, and Andre Lagarde were in charge of prosecution.