Five New Orleans Men Indicted for Drug Trafficking, Federal Weapons Violations, and Bank Fraud

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -EMON CHENEAU, a/k/a "Smiley" ("CHENEAU"), age 22, DEVIN BROWN, a/k/a "YD", a/k/a "YDtheillest" ("BROWN"), age 27, KENAN BREAUD, a/k/a "Tank" ("BREAUD"), age 20, KELAN GENNINGS ("GENNINGS"), age 24, and KRISHAWN SIMMS ("SIMMS"), age 22, were indicted on February 26, 2026 in a 15-count indictment for violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act, the Federal Gun Control Act, and committing bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. The indictment was unsealed on April 17, 2026.

All five defendants are charged in Count 1 with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, marijuana, in Count 2 with conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, in Count 3 with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in Count 4 with using or maintaining a drug premises, and in Count 11 with conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

CHENEAU, GENNINGS, and SIMMS are additionally charged in Count 5 with possession with intent to distribute marijuana. GENNINGS is charged in Count 6, BROWN is charged in Counts 7 and 10, and CHENEAU is charged in Count 9 with being a felon in possession of a firearm. CHENEAU is charged with an additional count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in Count 8. GENNINGS is also charged in Counts 12 through 15 with bank fraud.

According to the indictment, since at least 2024, the defendants conspired to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, marijuana and to possess firearms in furtherance of that drug-trafficking conspiracy. Between July and September of 2025, the defendants used and maintained a drug premises in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, and in September of 2025, all five men possessed firearms in furtherance of their drug-trafficking conspiracy.

The indictment also alleges that BROWN and CHENEAU possessed Anderson Manufacturing Model AM-15 pistols and that GENNINGS possessed a Romarm/Cugir Model Micro Draco pistol after being previously convicted of felony offenses. BROWN was previously convicted of simple robbery, and CHENEAU was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and psilocybin, and illegal carrying of a weapon with a controlled substance. GENNINGS had previously been convicted of offenses including illegal possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and aggravated assault with a firearm.

In addition to the federal firearms and drug-trafficking violations, the indictment also alleges that all five men conspired to commit bank fraud. The conspiracy involved acquiring stolen checks, re-printing or otherwise altering them to make them payable to individuals or companies other than the intended recipient, soliciting bank accounts into which to deposit the fraudulent checks, and then withdrawing money from the proceeds of the checks before the financial institutions discovered the fraud.

The indictment further alleges that in April of 2025, GENNINGS deposited or caused to be deposited four fraudulent checks, including a fraudulent check in the amount of $150,000.

As to the charges of conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, the defendants face up to five years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and at least two years of supervised release up to a life term of supervised release.

As to the charge of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

As to the charge of using or maintaining a drug premises, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison, up to a $500,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

As to the charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, CHENEAU, BROWN, and GENNINGS eachface per count up to 15 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

As to the charges of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, the defendants each face per count a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and up to life in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release.

As to the charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, the defendants each face up to 30 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine or the greater of twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss of the scheme, and up to five years of supervised release. GENNINGS faces the same penalties as to each of the four counts of bank fraud against him.

Each of the 15 counts also requires payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

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 (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit and Christine Calogero of the General Crimes Unit are in charge of the prosecution.