New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun and Drug Violations

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – COREY BESSIE, age 30, a resident of Orleans Parish,  pled guilty on January 22, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Darrel James Papillion to Counts 6 and 7 of the indictment pending against him. Count 6 charged BESSIE with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). Count 7 charged BESSIE with possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and marijuana, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) and (D).

Based on his guilty plea, BESSIE will face the following sentences as to each count:

As to Count 6, BESSIE faces up to 10 years in prison, up to a $250,000.00 fine , and up to three years of supervised release. 

As to Count 7, BESSIE faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000.00 fine, and not less than three years of supervised release.   

Additionally, as to each charged count, BESSIE faces payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.         

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr of the Narcotics Unit.