Press Releases
NEW ORLEANS DRUG OFFENDER SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS
August 21, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MATTNELL ALLEN, age 31, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced yesterday by U. S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon to 60 months imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute at least five (5) grams of crack cocaine, announced U. S Attorney Jim Letten. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Lemmon imposed four (4) years of supervised release following the term of imprisonment. During the four year term the defendant will be under federal supervision and risks an additional term of imprisonment should he violate any terms of his supervised release.
On May 15, 2008, ALLEN previously entered a guilty plea before Judge Lemmon. According to court documents, New Orleans Police Department officers observed ALLEN in what appeared to be a drug transaction on February 7, 2006, in front of a residence on Simon Bolivar Street. ALLEN was seen handing a bag to one man who subsequently gave the bag to another person. ALLEN went down the alleyway on the side of the residence. Officers later stopped the person who had taken the bag and found him to be in possession of the bag, which contained crack. The middle person in the transaction left the area and was not found.
Officers went back down the alleyway where ALLEN had gone. They observed the rear door of the residence to be open. Officers entered the residence, which appeared to be abandoned, and observed ALLEN attempting to hide. In the last room near ALLEN, officers found a plate, located on a tabletop, containing numerous pieces of crack and razor blades, as well as several empty bags. The crack totaled about 40 grams.
The Court’s sentence was agreed to by both the Government and defense counsel. After sentencing, ALLEN was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal’s Service to begin his term of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the officers of the New Orleans Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Boitmann.
