New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Controlled Substances and The Federal Gun Control Acts

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KENDALE ADAMS, age 41, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty on February 7, 2023 to one count of possession with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin and methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C) and one count of felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court documents, On Saturday July 17, 2021, a Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) Task Force Officer conducting surveillance at a convenience store in New Orleans, Louisiana observed ADAMS loitering outside the convenience store.  The officer also observed a large bulge in ADAMS’s front right waistband consistent with a firearm being concealed. 

The officers alerted nearby New Orleans Police Department (“NOPD”) uniformed units.  Several units arrived and approached ADAMS who  removed a firearm from his waistband and ran behind a vehicle.  The officers apprehended ADAMS, seized the firearm and placed him under arrest. 

While searching ADAMS, officers seized a clear bag containing multiple drugs from ADAMS’s front right pocket along with $366 in cash.  The seized drugs consisted of approximately 6 grams of marijuana, .58 grams of methamphetamine,  4.49 grams of heroin, and approximately 5 of a heroin and fentanyl mixture.  The recovered firearm, a gLock Model 19, was stolen as confirmed by law enforcement. 

It was determined that ADAMS had possessed the heroin and fentanyl with the intent to distribute the substances and that he had previously distributed heroin and fentanyl near the 1300 block of France Street in New Orleans, Louisiana on many occasions. 

ADAMS was previously convicted of felony offenses, making it illegal for him to be in possession of a firearm.  Between 2004 and 2009, in Orleans and Jefferson Parish, ADAMS was convicted possession of crack cocaine, attempted armed robbery, possession of ecstasy, possession of heroin, theft of goods, and possession of stolen firearms. 

For the drug count, ADAMS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and a term of supervised release of at least three (3) years.  For the felon in possession count, ADAMS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a term of supervised release of up to three (3) years.  For each count, ADAMS must pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 at sentencing.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones.

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