Slidell Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Federal Drug Charges

NEW ORLEANS—Noah Gallien, age 57, a resident of Slidell, Louisiana, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle to 10 years (120 months) in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count in a superseding Bill of Information for conspiracy to distribute more than 28 grams of cocaine base, or “crack,” announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Lemelle imposed eight years of supervised release following the term of imprisonment, during which time the defendant will be under federal supervision and risks an additional term of imprisonment should he violate any terms of his supervised release.

According to court documents, Gallien conspired with others in the Slidell area prior to February 10, 2010 and continuing through September 29, 2010, to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base or crack. Numerous telephone calls between Gallien and a crack suppler were recorded pursuant to a court authorized wire-tap. In those calls, Gallien arranged for the purchase of crack from his supplier on several occasions. A total of eight men were indicated by the United States, including Gallien, in January 2011 and to date, all have pleaded guilty.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward J. Rivera and Sean Toomey.