Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NEW ORLEANS – Eder Quinones, age 35, a Colombian citizen who was living in Houston, Texas, pleaded guilty on April 14, 2021 before the Honorable Sarah S. Vance to a superseding indictment charging him with violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to the court records, Quinones conspired to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute a kilogram or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin.  Quinones admitted to being the source of supply for a high-level drug trafficker who was moving kilogram quantities of heroin from Houston to New Orleans and serving as a high-level supplier for New Orleans.  Quinones acknowledged being captured on recorded calls as part of a lengthy Title III wire intercept and being arrested by the FBI in possession of a kilogram of heroin he was attempting to deliver to a New Orleans dealer.  Quinones admitted that he trafficked between 10 and 30 kilograms of heroin as part of the conspiracy.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 21, 2021.  Quinones faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of at least 10 years up to a maximum of life, a fine of $10,000,000, and at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.  Quinones also faces a payment of a $100.00 special assessment fee.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller.