A New Orleans resident has pleaded guilty to federal drug charges involving large quantities of cocaine. Yaidel Placido Salvador, 39, entered his plea on January 7, 2026, before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo. He was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
According to court documents, Salvador and other co-conspirators distributed multi-kilogram amounts of cocaine within the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Salvador faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison for each count, with a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment. He could also be fined up to $10 million and would face at least five years of supervised release as well as a mandatory special assessment fee totaling $200.
U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced the guilty plea and explained that the prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is described as “a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.” The statement continued: “Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.”
The investigation was led by agents from several agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration – New Orleans Field Division Office. They were assisted by personnel from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Border Patrol, Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, Kenner Police Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman from the Narcotics Unit is handling prosecution duties for this case.
