New Orleans Man Sentenced After Pleading Guilty to Violating the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - ANDRE BELL ("BELL"), age 38, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on July 8, 2026 by United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry to 78 months' imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and $400.00 in mandatory special assessment fees, after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846, two counts of distribution of heroin and fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.

According to court documents, on April 14, 2025, Special Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms identified a co-conspirator as a trafficker of narcotics and firearms and made three controlled purchases from him. On each occasion, BELL supplied the narcotics and firearms that the co-conspirator sold to the buyers.

On August 3, 2023, the co-conspirator arranged a sale of heroin to an individual he believed was a legitimate buyer and indicated BELL would deliver the substance. A meeting place was set, and the co-conspirator met with individuals he thought were legitimate buyers, in their vehicle. Shortly thereafter, BELL arrived and provided 14.07 grams of heroin and fentanyl to the co-conspirator who distributed the drugs to the buyers.

On August 8, 2023, an individual the defendant believed to be a legitimate buyer negotiated the purchase of a half-ounce of cocaine and one ounce of fentanyl from the co-conspirator. At the meeting place, the co-conspirator provided the buyer with 12.95 grams of cocaine and informed the buyer that BELL was delivering the fentanyl. BELL then arrived and provided a half-ounce of fentanyl to the co-conspirator who then distributed the fentanyl to the buyer.

On August 11, 2023, the co-conspirator arranged a sale of a firearm to an individual he believed to be a legitimate buyer. At the meeting place, the co-conspirator delivered to the buyer a "ghost gun, a firearm that is not serialized making it difficult to trace. The ghost gun was provided to the co-conspirator by BELL.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.

* * *