New Orleans Women Sentenced To Drug Offenses

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier sentenced ASHLI MARTIN, age 34, and ANGELMICA AUGUSTINE, age 28, both of New Orleans, to terms of three years’ probation and time served, respectively, after they pled guilty to drug charges.  MARTIN pled guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and cocaine base (“crack”) and AUGUSTINE pled guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. 

According to court documents, In March of 2017, members of the NOPD/HIDTA Task Force received information from a source of information that three individuals, including Chris Wells, MARTIN’S boyfriend, and Jason Craft, AUGUSTINE’S boyfriend, were heroin distributors in the area of Mandeville Street and Derbigny Street in New Orleans. 

In April 2017, officers conducting surveillance observed Wells and Craft conduct hand-to-hand narcotics transactions with several individuals.  Officers arrested one of the individuals who purchased heroin and seized the purchased heroin.  In a post-arrest statement, the individual admitted that he routinely purchased heroin by calling one telephone that was shared by Wells, Craft, and a third person.  According to the individual, any one of the three would answer the phone and sell him an ounce of heroin on a weekly basis.

Officers and DEA Special Agents obtained search warrants for the residence at 406 East Liberaux Street in Chalmette, Louisiana, shared by Wells and MARTIN and the residence at 14070 Wales Street in New Orleans, shared by Craft and AUGUSTINE.  During the search of the Chalmette residence, officers and agents seized 70 grams of heroin, 38 grams of crack, and a Smith & Wesson 9 mm semi-automatic pistol.  During the search of the Wales Street residence, officers and agents seized 4.9 grams of heroin and several firearms, including two semi-automatic rifles, a semi-automatic pistol, and a shotgun.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Orleans Police Department, and the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney André Jones was in charge of the prosecution.