New Orleans Man Guilty of Drug Trafficking and Firearms Violations

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - TERRELL KELLEY ("KELLEY"), age 35, pleaded guilty on April 9, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan to a six-count superseding bill of information charging him with three counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.

According to court documents, the aforementioned narcotics and firearms charges relate to three separate incidents, as follows. On August 20, 2020, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers attempted to arrest KELLEY on an outstanding warrant. After a standoff, KELLEY surrendered, and a search warrant was obtained for the residence where he was located. The search revealed $10,000 in cash, a Glock pistol, an extended magazine, assorted ammunition, 21 grams of crack, 8.51 grams of heroin, and 25 Tramadol pills. Due to previous felony convictions, KELLEY is prohibited from possessing a firearm. On December 16, 2021, NOPD officers observed KELLEY conducting multiple hand-to-hand narcotics transactions. KELLEY was apprehended and evidence of the narcotics transactions, including 1.1 grams of crack, plastic baggies, and cash were recovered. These items are consistent with street-level narcotics distribution. Finally, on February 3, 2023, NOPD officers again encountered KELLEY and found him to be in possession of a Glock nine-millimeter handgun, a total of 25 Tapentadol tablets, and $280 cash, all consistent with street-level narcotics distribution.

KELLEY will be sentenced on July 14, 2026, and faces the following penalties:

Count 1-charging possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base, heroin, and Tramadol-carries a penalty of up to twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, at least three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment.

Count 2-charging being a felon in possession of a firearm-carries a penalty of up to ten years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment.

Count 3-charging possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base-carries a penalty of up to twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, at least three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment.

Count 4-charging possession with the intent to distribute Tapentadol-carries a penalty of up to twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, at least three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment.

Count 5-charging the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime-carries a penalty of at least five years up to life that must run consecutively to all other terms of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to five years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment.

Count 6-charging being a felon in possession of a firearm-carries a penalty of up to fifteen years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Greg Kennedy of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.