A Louisiana Man Faces Up to Life in Prison After Being Caught with 3Kg of Heroin

Published February 24, 2022

Louisiana – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that James Alexander, age 51, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, to participating in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, in violation of federal law.

According to court documents, James Alexander and another known individual conspired to sell three kilograms of heroin on or around May 20, 2021. Around noon, DEA agents were made aware of a potential sale on Carrollton Avenue in Mid-City. Agents set up surveillance and kept an eye on the drug transaction. During this time, agents followed a car driven by a known female that they saw Alexander get into. Alexander was dressed in a bright yellow construction vest and carried a grey collapsible food container. Agents pursued the vehicle down Carrollton Avenue until it came to a halt. Alexander exited the car and attempted to flee on foot. He threw away the food container while doing so.

Agents apprehended Alexander and recovered the food container, which contained three kilograms of suspected heroin worth around $150,000.00.

Alexander was apprehended on the spot and taken to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Orleans Field Division for processing. Alexander has a prior federal drug trafficking conviction from 2000 in the Eastern District of Louisiana, where he served approximately 140 months in the custody of the United States Bureau of Prisons, according to a review of his criminal record. In addition, he has several arrests and convictions in state court for drug trafficking offenses.

Alexander now faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years up to life in prison, a fine of up to ten million dollars, at least five years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. On May 17, 2022, he will be sentenced.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (D.E.A.) work in investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr. is prosecuting the case.

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