A New Orleans man with past convictions pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and firearms offenses just as his trial was slated to commence. Odine Dominick, 34, admitted to charges including possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana, as well as firearm offenses, before U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk on June 10, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
The case unfurled following a law enforcement discovery of Dominick in a photograph with a rifle magazine in his waistband and in a video inside a stolen car with a handgun. A subsequent search of Dominick's residence on December 14, 2023, revealed over 100 grams of a fentanyl and heroin mix, a substantial amount of vacuum-sealed marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a loaded firearm, the details of which were outlined by the Justice Department.
In light of previous convictions, including conspiracy to distribute heroin and attempts to distribute cocaine, Dominick faced enhanced sentencing. "Because of his prior federal drug trafficking conviction, DOMINICK was charged with a sentencing enhancement," reported the U.S. Attorney's Office. He now confronts a mandatory minimum of 10 years and potentially life in prison for the drug charges, coupled with a substantial financial penalty.
The prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, aimed at curbing violent crime and reinforcing public safety through community and law enforcement collaboration. This strategy was bolstered by a Department of Justice initiative that began on May 26, 2021, with a focus on trust-building within communities and data-driven enforcement practices. As the case moves forward, Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is tasked with the prosecution duties, while the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department lead the investigative efforts.
