MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO HEROIN CONSPIRACY

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA—XAVIER O’CONNOR, a/k/a Money, age 22, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty in federal court to a Superseding Bill of Information charging him with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 1 or more kilograms of heroin, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to court documents, during the summer of 2007, O’CONNOR and his co-conspirators were intercepted by wiretaps communicating about their illegal drug trafficking. Prior to that, on February 9, 2007, O’CONNOR had been arrested in Jefferson Parish for distribution of heroin after the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted a surveillance operation in which agents witnessed O’CONNOR and another individual making numerous hand-to-hand drug transactions out of their car. A search of the apartment where O’CONNOR and his friend were seen entering and exiting between drug transactions resulted in the seizure of approximately 360 grams of heroin, drug paraphernalia, and four firearms. O’CONNOR, who had no prior convictions, has been in custody since his arrest on federal charges.

The defendant faces a mandatory minimum ten (10) years and a maximum of life imprisonment, a $2 million fine, and five (5) years supervised release.

The case against O’CONNOR was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney Emily Greenfield.