36-Year-Old Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Marijuana

New Orleans, Louisiana –  On Thursday, February 2, 2023, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that Solomon Burke, age 36, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty on February 1, 2023, before U.S. District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to a violation of the Federal Controlled Substances Act.

Solomon Burke pled guilty to count one of a superseding bill of information, which charged him with possession with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin and marijuana, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), (b)(1)(D), and 18 U.S.C.

Burke faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and at least three years supervised release on count one, and a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and at least two years supervised release on count two. Burke must also pay a $100 special assessment fee. Burke’s sentencing date is set for April 25, 2023.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve together to reduce violent crime and gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy to strengthen PSN on May 26, 2021, based on the following core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department investigated the case. Unit Chief Elizabeth Privitera of the Violent Crime/Gang Unit and Assistant Unit States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu Jr. of the Narcotics Unit are prosecuting the case.