David Kellup Jr., a resident of New Orleans, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to controlled substances and firearms violations. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson. Kellup, aged 45, entered his plea on February 13, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier. His sentencing is scheduled for May 24, 2025.
Kellup was charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances under Count 2 of the indictment. This charge carries a potential sentence ranging from five to forty years in prison, a fine up to $5 million, and at least four years of supervised release.
In Count 4, Kellup faced charges for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. The penalties for this count include a mandatory minimum of five years imprisonment up to life, a fine up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release post-imprisonment. Any sentence for this count must run consecutively with other sentences.
Count 5 involved Kellup's possession of firearms after previous felony convictions. He faces up to fifteen years in prison, a fine up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release if convicted on this count.
The final charge under Count 8 involves maintaining a drug-involved premises. This could result in up to twenty years imprisonment, fines reaching $500,000, and at least three years of supervised release upon conviction.
All four counts also entail a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 each.
The indictment outlines that Kellup and others maintained residences in the Algiers neighborhood from an unknown start date until at least May 8, 2024. These locations were used for packaging and distributing narcotics such as fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin. Firearms were reportedly used by several individuals involved in this drug trafficking conspiracy.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson acknowledged the efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Louisiana State Police (LSP), and New Orleans Police Department (NOPD). Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot from the Narcotics Unit is handling the prosecution.