Federal Grand Jury Indicts Man for Drug and Weapons Violations
NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on Thursday, February 25, 2021, DERRICK ESTES, age 41, resident of Orleans Parish, was charged in a four-count indictment for alleged drug and gun violations. These violations occurred on January 17, 2021 and February 1, 2021. In Count 1 of the indictment, ESTES is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and over 28 grams of crack-cocaine. Count 2 charges ESTES with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and in Count 3 with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Finally, ESTES is charged in Count 4 with possession with the intent to distribute crack-cocaine and over 40 grams of fentanyl.
In Count 1 and 4 of the indictment, ESTES is charged with possession with the intent to distribute a certain quantity of crack-cocaine and fentanyl, in violation of in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). If convicted, ESTES faces a maximum sentence of 20 years, a fine up to $1,000,000.00, a period of at least 3 years supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment of $100.00 for each count. ESTES is also charged in Count 1 with possession with the intent to distribute 28 or more grams of crack-cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(iii) and in Count 4 with possession with the intent to distribute 40 or more grams of fentanyl in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(vi). If convicted, ESTES faces a minimum sentence of 5 years up to a maximum of 40 years imprisonment, a fine up to $5,000,000.00, a period of at least 4 years supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment of $100.00 for each charge. In Count 2, ESTES is charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1). If convicted, ESTES faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years up to a maximum of life imprisonment, to be run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a fine up to $250,000.00, a period of 5 years supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment of $100.00. Finally, in Count 3, ESTES is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). If convicted, ESTES faces a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000, a period of 3 years supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment of $100.00.
U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime/Strike Force Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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