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NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that Bryan Joseph, age 46, was sentenced on a one-count superseding bill of information for distributing heroin in Jefferson Parish. United States District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced Joseph to serve 240 months in federal prison. Joseph was placed on 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay a mandatory $100.00 special assessment cost.

According to court documents, on October 14, 2018, deputies with Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a McDonald’s restaurant located in Harvey, Louisiana. When deputies arrived, they were advised that an unresponsive male was found in a bathroom stall. Deputies found an uncapped needle, needle cap, bent spoon and corner of a cellophane bag near the body. Detectives reviewed the store’s video surveillance and saw the victim arrive to the restaurant on a bicycle and enter the bathroom. The victim never exited the bathroom. Subsequently, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation who then assisted with the investigation. Through the investigation, agents determined that Joseph sold the victim a quantity of heroin prior to the victim’s death. Jefferson Parish Forensic Center conducted an autopsy, which concluded that the victim died as a result of the toxic effects of heroin and fentanyl.

After agents identified Joseph as a suspect in the victim’s death, they successfully purchased heroin from Joseph on October 23, 2018 and October 25, 2018. On October 31, 2018, agents executed a search warrant at Joseph’s residence and located approximately 68.8 grams of heroin, approximately 156 grams of marijuana, digital scales and sandwich bags.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Gang Task Force, and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Nolan D. Paige was in charge of the prosecution.