A New Orleans man has received a substantial prison sentence for multiple drug-related offenses, including fentanyl distribution, as part of a concerted effort to crack down on drug trafficking and related violent crime in the area, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana.
On Tuesday, 44-year-old Roland Robinson was sentenced to 60 months in prison for each of four counts related to the distribution and intent to distribute narcotics, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana in the New Orleans community. This is in addition to a consecutive 60-month term for firearm possession during the commission of these crimes.
The sentencing underscores the broader initiative known as Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to pull together various levels of law enforcement and communities with the goal to decrease violent crime and gun violence—through partnership and prevention efforts, strategic enforcement priorities, and diligent outcome measurement.
Federal resources, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with local agencies such as the New Orleans Police Department and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, were involved in the investigation that led to Robinson’s prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit led the case. Since May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice has worked to expand PSN to incorporate principles that foster community trust and support organizations aiming to prevent violence before it occurs.
Upon his eventual release, Robinson will face four years of supervised release in addition to his imprisonment and must also pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $500. Such penalties reflect the serious nature of his offenses and law enforcement's continuous commitment to curbing the local drug trade, which often fuels wider cycles of crime and societal harm.
