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Press Release

Trial Jury Finds New Orleans East Resident Guilty Of Heroin and Cocaine Conspiracy, Firearm Possession, and Structuring; Defendant Must Forfeit $425,000 in Illegal Drug Proceeds

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

NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that, last Friday, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict against New Orleans East resident DWIGHT ALEXANDER, age 48, on five counts involving drug, firearm, and financial crimes.  The jury also ordered the defendant to forfeit approximately $425,000 in proceeds from his illegal drug operation.  United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry scheduled ALEXANDER’s sentencing for November 19, 2019. 

According to the evidence at trial, between 2012 and 2016, ALEXANDER sold a premium “cutting agent” used by drug dealers to expand and strengthen their heroin and cocaine.  ALEXANDER’s product was called “Bonita,” and evidence showed that ALEXANDER acquired hundreds of kilograms of various powders like mannitol, lidocaine, quinine, and acetaminophen, that he then mixed and sold as Bonita to the highest-level drug dealers in New Orleans.  During the timeframe of the conspiracy, ALEXANDER made frequent cash deposits from the proceeds of his sale of Bonita into various bank accounts.  In total, the government seized approximately $425,000, which will be forfeited as the proceeds of his unlawful drug operation.  ALEXANDER, who was a convicted felon, was arrested shortly after leaving his New Orleans East residence in October 2016.  Agents conducted a search warrant at his residence and recovered a loaded Taurus revolver, as well as over 100 kilograms of various cutting agents that ALEXANDER intended to mix, market, and distribute to drug dealers. 

At the conclusion of a five-day trial, the jury found ALEXANDER guilty of the lead charge of conspiring to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin and 5 kilograms or more of cocaine; two counts of distributing heroin; one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm; and one count of structuring cash deposits to avoid financial reporting requirements.  On these counts, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum life sentence.  The defendant also faces a period of supervised release of at least 5 years. 

U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, which led this investigation and was assisted by the Kenner Police Department, Customs and Border Protection Agency, New Orleans Police Department, Louisiana State Police, and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon Long, Theodore Carter, and Michael Redmann are in charge of the prosecution.         

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Updated August 19, 2019

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Firearms Offenses