Slidell Man Facing Mandatory 10 Years to Life After Guilty Plea to Drug Offense

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that Kendrick Demourelle, age 40 and a resident of Slidell, pled guilty on November 2, 2021 to conspiring to distribute a kilogram or more of heroin, five kilograms or more of cocaine, and 280 grams or more of crack cocaine. He now faces a mandatory minimum of ten years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000, at least five (5) years of supervised release upon his release from prison, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for each drug offense. 

According to court records, Demourelle and four others, Joseph Brown, Lionel Cooley, Blake Monroe, and Kevin Gray, conspired to sell illegal narcotics in New Orleans. A portable safe being moved from Demourelle's stash house during a court-approved search contained nearly one kilogram of heroin. A repossessed GMC Sierra pickup truck used by Cooley contained nearly two kilograms of cocaine and 430 grams of crack. More than 400 grams of heroin, 125 grams of cocaine, a kilo press, and other drug paraphernalia were seized in Gray’s home in Chalmette during a court-authorized search. 

The evidence against Demourelle includes the seizure of more than $50,000 and firearms found in his Denali truck after he sold two kilograms of cocaine to Cooley. 

U.S. District Judge Wendy Vitter will sentence Demourelle on February 15, 2022. 

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Hammond Police Department, New Orleans Police Department, and Slidell Police Department in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney David Howard Sinkman is in charge of the prosecution.