New Orleans Man Sentenced After Pleading Guilty to Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act and the Federal Gun Control Act

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KENDALE ADAMS, age 42, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on August 8, 2023 by United States Judge Wendy B. Vitter to 151 months’ imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release and $200.00 in special assessment fees after pleading guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin and methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), and one count of felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court documents, On Saturday July 17, 2021, a Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) Task Force Officer conducting surveillance at a convenience store in New Orleans, Louisiana observed ADAMS loitering outside the convenience store.  The officer also observed a large bulge in ADAMS’s front right waistband consistent with a firearm being concealed. 

The officers alerted nearby New Orleans Police Department (“NOPD”) uniformed units.  Several units arrived and approached ADAMS who removed a firearm from his waistband and ran behind a vehicle.  The officers apprehended ADAMS, seized the firearm and placed him under arrest. 

While searching ADAMS, officers seized a clear bag containing multiple drugs from ADAMS’s front right pocket along with $366 in cash.  The seized drugs consisted of approximately 6 grams of marijuana, .58 grams of methamphetamine, 4.49 grams of heroin, and approximately 5 grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture.  The recovered firearm, a Glock Model 19, nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, was stolen as confirmed by law enforcement. 

ADAMS acknowledged that he possessed the heroin and fentanyl with the intent to distribute the substances and that he had previously distributed heroin and fentanyl on many occasions. 

ADAMS also acknowledged that he knew he had been convicted of felony offenses, making it illegal for him to be in possession of a firearm.  Between 2004 and 2009, in Orleans and Jefferson Parish, ADAMS was convicted possession of crack cocaine, attempted armed robbery, possession of ecstasy, possession of heroin, theft of goods, and possession of stolen firearms. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.