A 56-year-old Kenner woman, Shawna Martin, has admitted to multiple charges related to the distribution and possession of the powerful opioid fentanyl, acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced through a press release published this week, Thursday. Pleading guilty on May 8, before Judge Barry W. Ashe, Martin now faces a hefty prison sentence, along with the potential for fines reaching millions of dollars.
As detailed by court documents, Martin's offenses occurred over two separate instances on August 24 and September 6, 2025, where she distributed and was in possession to distribute 220 and 500 fentanyl pills, respectively, which were later determined to be with a net weight of 30.7 grams and 67 grams; at the time of her arrest on September 20, authorities found Martin with a further 861 pills weighing approximately 114.86 grams.
The stakes for Martin's conviction are high: for the distribution of a quantity of fentanyl, she could face 20 years of incarceration and a $1 million fine, while the charges for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute forty grams or more carry a mandatory minimum of five years up to 40 years in prison, fines up to $5 million, in addition to supervised release once her incarceration ends, and special assessment fees.
With the case being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit is heading the prosecution this case serves as another cogent reminder of the ongoing battle that law enforcement agencies are waging against the opioid crisis that has relentlessly claimed lives across the nation, while the DEA continues to underscore the severity of trading in such perilous substances amid a public health epidemic.
