Three People from St. John The Baptist Parish and Jefferson Parish Sentenced in Fentanyl Distribution Case

NEW ORLEANS - JESSICA PORTWAY, age 42 of St. John the Baptist Parish, RACHEL PORTWAY, age 23 of Jefferson Parish, and TYLER SALADINO, age 25 of Jefferson Parish were sentenced on May 13, 2026 by United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo, after previously pleading guilty to a drug conspiracy, drug distribution, and possession with intent to distribute, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.

TYLER SALADINO was sentenced to 48 months and three (3) years of supervised release as to Counts 1, 2, and 3. JESSICA PORTWAY was sentenced to thirty-seven (37) months as to Counts 1, 2, and 4 and three (3) years of supervised release. RACHEL PORTWAY was sentenced to time-served, three (3) years of supervised release and a 12-month period of home incarceration as to Counts 1, 2, and 3.

According to court documents, in August 2023, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office (JPSO) investigated an overdose death in Jefferson Parish that revealed 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 in California.

A search warrant was executed on SALADINO and RACHEL PORTWAY'S shared residence and additional pills were recovered. Testing by the JPSO Crime Laboratory confirmed the pills contained fentanyl. A search warrant was executed on JESSICA PORTWAY'S residence in LaPlace, Louisiana and law enforcement also recovered 26 doses of LSD, a quantity of methamphetamine, and a quantity of fentanyl.

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.