St. John The Baptist and Jefferson Parish Residents Guilty of Fentanyl Conspiracy and Distribution

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JESSICA PORTWAY, age 42, of St. John the Baptist Parish, RACHEL PORTWAY, age 23 of Jefferson Parish, and TYLER SALADINO (“SALADINO”), age 25, of Jefferson Parish, pled guilty before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo, to an indictment charging them with drug conspiracy, drug distribution and possession with intent to distribute drugs, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle. JESSICA PORTWAY pled guilty on January 7, 2026; and RACHEL PORTWAY and SALADINO pled guilty on January 21, 2026.

All three defendants were charged in Count 1 of the indictment with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. All three defendants were also charged in Count 2 with distribution of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2. Count 3 charged RACHEL PORTWAY and SALADINO with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). Count 4 charged JESSICA PORTWAY with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 841(b)(1)(C).

According to court documents, in August 2023, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office was investigating an overdose death in Jefferson Parish. The investigation revealed that SALADINO, RACHEL PORTWAY, JESSICA PORTWAY, and others. conspired to distribute fentanyl in the Eastern District of Louisiana. As part of the conspiracy, SALADINO and RACHEL PORTWAY sold pills containing fentanyl to the victim in Jefferson Parish. The investigation further revealed that RACHEL PORTWAY had obtained the pills from JESSICA PORTWAY in the weeks leading up to the transaction, and that JESSICA PORTWAY had received the pills from another individual from California.

A search warrant was executed on SALADINO and RACHEL PORTWAY’S shared residence, and additional pills containing fentanyl were recovered. A search warrant executed on JESSICA PORTWAY’S residence in LaPlace, Louisiana by law enforcement yielded 26 doses of LSD, a quantity of methamphetamine, and a quantity of fentanyl.

The defendants face up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and at least three years of supervised release for Count 1. As to Count 2, the defendants face up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000.00 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. As to Count 3, SALADINO and RACHEL PORTWAY face up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and at least three years of supervised release. As to Count 4, JESSICA PORTWAY faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years and up to a maximum term of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and up to five years of supervised release.

The defendants, individually, also face payment of a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee for each count.

Sentencing for JESSICA PORTWAY is set for April 8, 2026, and sentencing in this matter for RACHEL PORTWAY and TYLER SALADINO is scheduled for April 22, 2026.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration – Fentanyl Overdose Response Team (FORT), the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Briana Williams and Andre Jones of the Narcotics Unit.