NEW ORLEANS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO DRUG AND GUN OFFENSES

Published 11:00 am Sunday, October 31, 2021

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that REYNAUD KENDRELL VARISTE (“VARISTE”), age 32, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A) and possession with intent to distribute heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C).

The Court set sentencing in this matter for February 3, 2022 at 1:30 p.m.  VARISTE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a maximum fine of up to $1,000,000, up to three (3) years of supervised release for drug trafficking and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.  VARISTE further faces a minimum of five (5) years to be served consecutively and up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, a supervised release term of up to five (5) years and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn M. McHugh is prosecuting the case.