A Slidell man, Gregory Smith, 41, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including fentanyl distribution, illegal firearm possession, and money laundering, as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana on Monday.
Smith, who was also found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and his co-conspirators were involved in plans to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl throughout Louisiana.
In May 2023, following a search of Smith’s home, the DEA seized over 10,500 grams of fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, and related paraphernalia. Items seized included blenders, digital scales, and a vacuum sealer, all contaminated with fentanyl residue. Along with these, agents found $15,520 in cash and a loaded Masterpiece Arms MPA Defender submachine gun with an extended magazine.
Court documents revealed that Smith had structured cash deposits from drug sales to settle a car debt and used $27,617 to close on a home. Additionally, he purchased a 2018 Maserati Levante using $48,931 in drug money.
As a result of his actions, Smith faces significant penalties, including a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, and at least five years of supervised release on the drug distribution charges. For the firearm charge, Smith faces a maximum of 15 years, and for money laundering, he could receive up to 20 years, along with fines totaling $750,000.
