NEW ORLEANS, LA — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)), published as received.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – On August 4, 2026, WILBERT SMITH, (“SMITH”), age 46, of New Orleans, was found guilty on all seven counts of a superseding indictment pending against him, following a two-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. Sentencing is scheduled for November 19, 2026. 

SMITH was convicted in Count 1 of conspiring with others to distribute, or possess with intent to distribute, controlled substances, and in Count 2 of possessing with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine and heroin, all in violation of Title 21, U.S.C. §841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A), (b)(1)(C), and 846. At sentencing, for both Counts 1 and 2, he faces a mandatory minimum of ten years and up to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release. 

SMITH was convicted in Count 4 of possessing firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy charged in Count 1, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A). At sentencing, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life imprisonment, which must run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. SMITH was convicted in Count 6 of being a felon in possession of firearms, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). At sentencing, he faces up to fifteen years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

SMITH was convicted in Count 8 of possessing a machinegun, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(o) and 924(a)(2). At sentencing, he faces up to ten (10) years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and at least three (3) years of supervised release. SMITH was convicted in Count 9 of possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 924(c) (l)(B)(ii). He faces a mandatory minimum of thirty (30) years imprisonment, which must be run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five (5) years of supervised release.

SMITH was convicted in Count 10 of Maintaining a drug involved premises, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 856. At sentencing, he faces up to twenty years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. As to each count of conviction, SMITH also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

Evidence presented at trial showed that beginning at a time unknown, but continuing until at least May 8, 2024, SMITH, and other individuals, maintained three residences in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans for the purpose of packaging and distributing narcotics, including fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin. Federal search warrants executed on these residences on May 8, 2024, led to the seizure of multiple firearms, including a machinegun, over $41,000 is U.S. currency, drug trafficking paraphernalia such as blenders, digital scales, a money counter, and plastic baggies, along with approximately 416 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin and over 100 grams of cocaine. SMITH also possessed multiple firearms, including the machinegun, to protect this drug-trafficking operation and his drug proceeds.

United States Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Stuart Theriot of the Violent Crimes Unit and Briana Williams of the Narcotics Unit.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

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