New Orleans Woman Guilty of Federal Controlled Substances Act Violations and Money Laundering

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Today, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evansannounced that BRANDIE ROWE (ROWE), age 36, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on November 6, 2024, before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to a two-count superseding indictment.  Count One charged ROWE with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(C).  Count Two charged ROWE with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956(a)(2)(A) and 1956(h).

According to court documents, ROWE and other co-conspirators distributed of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin within the Eastern District of Louisiana.  Additionally, ROWE and the co-conspirators traveled between New Orleans, and other states, in order to transport U.S. Currency and narcotics on behalf of a Drug Trafficking Organization.

As to Count One, ROWE faces up to twenty (20) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, at least three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.  As to Count Two, ROWE faces up to twenty (20) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $500,000.00, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration – New Orleans Field Division Office and was assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Border Patrol, the Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, the Kenner Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the St. John’s Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department.  The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.