Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Eastern District of Louisiana

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, September 23, 2022

New Orleans Resident Sentenced to Probation for Laundering Drug Money

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that Judge Susie Morgan sentenced ANNICE FALKINS, age 35, of New Orleans, Louisiana, to (5) five years of probation, which includes (1) one year of home detention, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for laundering money that was derived from the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1957.

According to court records, on April 6, 2016, FALKINS purchased a home in New Orleans East with 14 cashier’s checks that she acquired with funds she knew were earned from the illegal sale of heroin. Each of the cashier’s checks was in an amount less than $10,000, totaling approximately $118,226.51.

On December 27, 2017, FBI Special Agents from the New Orleans Gang Task Force received information regarding the pending delivery of approximately three kilograms of heroin that FALKINS’ codefendant and romantic partner, Arthur Johnson, was purchasing from his Chicago-based supplier. Later that day, surveillance agents observed meetings between Johnson and the man delivering the heroin at a Holiday Inn Hotel in New Orleans. During these meetings, Johnson paid approximately $187,000 for the heroin. The next day, FBI agents searched the home in New Orleans East that Johnson shared with FALKINS. During this search, agents seized 1.3 kilograms of heroin, over $11,000 in cash, numerous items of jewelry, six cell phones, a money counter, and a kilogram press used to package heroin.

FALKINS and Johnson pled guilty on August 24, 2021. On May 19, 2022, Judge Morgan sentenced Johnson to 262 months for conspiring to distribute heroin.

Pursuant to her plea agreement, FALKINS agreed to forfeit a Mercedes Benz car and a residential property in Davenport, Florida, both of which were purchased with proceeds from the illicit sale of heroin.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the FBI in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Long is in charge of the prosecution.