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Press Release

Three Individuals Indicted on Federal Drug Charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that FERMIN DANIEL PUENTE-MONTOYA, age 31, ALEJANDRO AGUILAR-RAMOS, age 30, and ELIAS SALAS, age 19,  were all indicted on April 14th, 2023 on two (2) counts of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841 and 846.  PUENTE-MONTOYA was also indicted on one count of Illegal Reentry of a Removed Alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).

According to the indictment, PUENTE-MONTOYA, AGUILAR-RAMOS, and SALAS conspired to traffic large quantities of illegal narcotics from Houston, Texas to Kenner, Louisiana.  If convicted on the drug counts, all three defendants face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment , up to a $10,000,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release.  Regarding the illegal reentry count, PUENTE-MONTOYA faces up to two years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to one year of supervised release.  Each count also carries a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U. S. Attorney Evans also praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kenner Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.

Contact

Shane M. Jones

Public Information Officer

United States Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana

United States Department of Justice

Updated April 18, 2023

Topic
Drug Trafficking