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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – A federal grand jury in New Orleans, Louisiana returned a three-count indictment charging a New Orleans man for violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act and the Federal Gun Control Act.

According to court documents, NICHOLAS WEBER, age 29, is charged in Count 1 with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B).  In Count 2, WEBER is charged with possessing firearms in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A).  In Count 3, WEBER is charged with possession of a firearms by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).

If convicted of Count 1, WEBER faces a minimum sentence of 5 years and up to a maximum of 40 years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and at least 4 years of supervised release.  If convicted of Count 2, WEBER faces a mandatory consecutive 5 years imprisonment, up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 5 years of supervised release.  If convicted of Count 3, WEBER faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release.  WEBER faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee for each count.

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Louisiana State Police as part of NOPD’s Violent Crime Abatement Investigation Team (“VCAIT”).  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Usher.