Eastside Hollygrove Resident Charged in Heroin and Fentanyl Conspiracy Sentenced to Ten Years

U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that ALOYSIUS KORIEOCHA, a/k/a “Madi,” a/k/a “Ball,” age 37, of New Orleans, was sentenced today after pleading guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and a quantity of fentanyl.

United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced KORIEOCHA to ten years of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release.

According to court records, during the timeframe of the charged drug conspiracy, KORIEOCHA conspired with codefendants Jonathan LAWRENCE, Brandon HALL, Donald MARCELIN, Brian MAXSON, Dwayne LABRANCH, Lance STOVALL, Vonzo MAGEE, and others, to distribute heroin and fentanyl throughout the New Orleans area.  These individuals were members of a drug-trafficking organization that operated primarily in the Eastside Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans.  Collectively, the group referred to their neighborhood as “The Zoo,” a name derived from a popular rap song and video filmed in the neighborhood.  Each of the eight defendants has been linked to drug activity in Eastside Hollygrove through law enforcement controlled purchases, Title III wire and electronic interceptions, witness statements, drug seizures, and other evidence.  Each of the eight defendants in this case has pleaded guilty, and thus far only KORIEOCHA has been sentenced.

U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the FBI New Orleans Gang Task Force (NOGFT), which led this investigation and was assisted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Orleans Police Department, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon S. Long, David Haller, and Edward Rivera are in charge of the prosecution.