Nola Reporter

Federal authorities have indicted four individuals from St. John the Baptist Parish, Jefferson Parish, and California on charges related to the distribution of fentanyl. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Duane A. Evans following a superseding indictment filed on October 24, 2024.

The accused are Jessica Marie Portway from St. John the Baptist Parish, Rachel Portway and Tyler Saladino from Jefferson Parish, and James Gottfried from California. They face charges under the Federal Controlled Substances Act.

In Count 1, all four individuals are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted, they could each face up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and at least three years of supervised release.

Count 2 charges them with distribution of fentanyl. The penalties mirror those of Count 1: up to 20 years imprisonment, a potential $1 million fine, and three years of supervised release.

Rachel Portway and Tyler Saladino are further charged in Count 3 for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. This charge carries similar penalties as the first two counts.

Jessica Portway faces an additional charge in Count 4 for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and LSD. This count involves more severe consequences: a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment that can extend to life imprisonment, a fine reaching $10 million, and five years of supervised release.

Each defendant is also subject to a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for each count charged against them.

According to the indictment details provided by U.S. Attorney Evans's office, these activities took place between August 14 and August 29 in the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Evans emphasized that "the indictment is merely a charging document" and stressed that "the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt."

The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration's Fentanyl Overdose Response Team (FORT), along with sheriff’s offices from Jefferson Parish and St. John the Baptist Parish. Assistant United States Attorney Briana Williams is handling prosecution efforts through the Narcotics Unit.