New Orleans Man Guilty of Conspiracy and Distribution of Heroin, Fentanyl and Felon in Possession of Firearm (DOJ)

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - ANDRE BELL ("BELL"), age 38, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on April 1, 2026, before United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, heroin and fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846, two counts of distribution of heroin and fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.

According to court documents, Special Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms identified a co-conspirator as a trafficker of narcotics and firearms and made three controlled purchases from him. On each occasion, BELL supplied the narcotics and firearms that the co-conspirator sold to the people believed to be legitimate buyers.

On August 3, 2023, the co-conspirator arranged a sale of heroin to the person believed to be a legitimate buyer and indicated BELL would deliver the substance. A meeting place was set, and the co-conspirator met with the people believed to be legitimate buyers in their vehicle. Shortly thereafter, BELL arrived and provided 14.07 grams of heroin and fentanyl to the co-conspirator who distributed the persons believed to be legitimate buyers.

On August 8, 2023, a controlled purchase of a half-ounce of cocaine and one ounce of fentanyl from the co-conspirator was negotiated. At the meeting place, the co-conspirator provided the person believed to be legitimate buyer 12.95 grams of cocaine and informed them that BELL was delivering the fentanyl. BELL then arrived and provided a half-ounce of fentanyl to the co-conspirator who then distributed the fentanyl to the person believed to be legitimate buyer.

On August 11, 2023, the co-conspirator arranged a sale of a firearm to a person believed to be legitimate buyer. At the meeting place, the co-conspirator delivered a "ghost gun, a firearm that is not serialized making it difficult to trace. The ghost gun was provided to the co-conspirator by BELL.

For the conspiracy and distribution counts, BELL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, at least three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. For the felon in possession count, BELL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of fifteen (15) years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).