Nola Reporter

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Jose Omar Vargas-Duque, a 39-year-old resident of Mexico, has pled guilty to federal charges related to drug trafficking and money laundering. The plea was entered on November 27, 2024, before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo in New Orleans.

Vargas faced a two-count superseding indictment. Count One accused him of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute significant quantities of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. Count Two charged him with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

Court documents revealed that Vargas and his co-conspirators distributed large amounts of these drugs within the Eastern District of Louisiana. They also traveled between New Orleans and other states to transport currency and narcotics for a Drug Trafficking Organization operating from Louisiana to Mexico.

For Count One, Vargas could receive a minimum sentence of ten years up to life imprisonment, a fine up to $10 million, at least five years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. For Count Two, he faces up to twenty years imprisonment, a fine up to $500,000, up to three years of supervised release, and another special assessment fee of $100.

The prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation aimed at dismantling high-level drug traffickers and criminal organizations using a multi-agency approach.

The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration's New Orleans Field Division Office with assistance from several agencies including the FBI and local law enforcement departments. Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman is handling the prosecution.