Ninth Ward Heroin Dealer Sentenced to 10 Years for Heroin Conspiracy

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that COREY CELESTINE, age 33, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to participating in a heroin distribution conspiracy in the lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. CELESTINE pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin.

U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman sentenced CELESTINE to 120 months imprisonment, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.

According to court documents, CELESTINE conspired with ULYESSE SANTIAGO, CLARENCE PETER SANTIAGO, DWAYNE SMOTHERS, and others to sell heroin near Bonart Park in New Orleans’ lower Ninth Ward. During the course of this investigation, agents performed several controlled purchases of heroin from CELESTINE, and he was subsequently arrested with $13,000 in cash. The investigation, led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, began in 2013 and resulted in the arrest of ten individuals in New Orleans, Terrebonne Parish, Jefferson Parish, and Texas.

ULYESSE SANTIAGO and CLARENCE PETER SANTIAGO each pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and were sentenced to 78 months and 51 months imprisonment, respectively. DWAYNE SMOTHERS pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and was sentenced to 54 months incarceration.

Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the DEA New Orleans Division Office, along with the assistance from the FBI New Orleans Field Office, the New Orleans Police Department, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisiana State Police in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Payne was in charge of the prosecution.