Four individuals from California and Louisiana face serious federal drug charges, including the distribution of the potent opioid fentanyl, as announced by United States Attorney Duane A. Evans. The defendants, identified as Jessica Marie Portway from St. John the Baptist Parish, Rachel Portway and Tyler Saladino from Jefferson Parish, and James Gottfried from California, were collectively hit with a four-count superseding indictment yesterday, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In a detailed breakdown of the charges, all four defendants were indicted on Count 1 for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, a crime that carries a potential 20-year imprisonment term and a $1,000,000 fine, amongst other penalties. The charges stem from activities that allegedly began at least by August 14, 2023, and continued until around August 29, 2023, within the Eastern District of Louisiana. U.S. Attorney Evans emphasized that an indictment is not an indication of guilt, and the innocence of the defendants should be presumed until guilt is proven in a court of law, as noted by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The additional counts vary per defendant, with Rachel Portway and Tyler Saladino facing Count 3 for possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, which mirrors the penalties of Count 1. Jessica Portway, however, was previously indicted on Count 4, a particularly severe count for possession with intent to distribute not only fentanyl but also methamphetamine and LSD. If convicted of this charge, she could confront a mandatory minimum of ten years to a potential life sentence, coupled with a fine that could spiral up to $10,000,000. Beyond the prison sentences and fines, each count comes with a compulsory $100 special assessment fee.
The joint investigations leading to these indictments involved the coordinated efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Fentanyl Overdose Response Team, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Briana Williams of the Narcotics Unit is handling the prosecution, according to the same press release.
