New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Federal Gun Control Acts

NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced Thursday that GEORGE JEFFERSON, age 46, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on June 15, 2023 before Chief United States District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown to a four-count indictment for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of heroin.  JEFFERSON, a convicted felon, also pled guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

JEFFERSON faces up to forty years of imprisonment, at least 4 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5,000,000 for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and faces up to twenty years of imprisonment, at least 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for possession with intent to distribute heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C).  JEFFERSON faces a mandatory five years of imprisonment, imposed consecutively to the charged drug offenses for possession of a Glock Model 23, .40 caliber gun, in furtherance of dealing fentanyl and heroin, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 924(c).  JEFFERSON also faces up to ten years imprisonment, up to 3 years supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2).  Additionally, for each of the four counts to which he pled guilty, JEFFERSON faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

JEFFERSON is scheduled to be sentenced on October 12, 2023.

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.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department.  The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.