New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -NOEL CHENEAU, age 56, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on April 25, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe for violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court records, the Drug Enforcement Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted government authorized wire intercepts targeting individuals who transported large quantities of narcotics from Houston, Texas to New Orleans. After learning that another individual discussed supplying CHENEAU with heroin, federal agents contacted CHENEAU. CHENEAU then admitted that the discussions heard on intercepted calls involved drug trafficking and that CHENEAU's drug trafficking activity involved more than 100 grams of heroin.

As part of CHENEAU's guilty plea, CHENEAU also admitted to a prior federal drug trafficking conviction from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B) and 846. The prior conviction increased the penalties against CHENEAU pursuant to recidivist enhancement provisions of federal law.

Judge Ashe sentenced CHENEAU to 120 months imprisonment, the mandatory minimum, to be followed by eight years of supervised release. Judge Ashe also ordered CHENEAU to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller, Senior Litigation Counsel.