NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney David I Courcelle announced today that MARQUEL HORTON , (“HORTON”) , age 41, of New Orleans, was indicted on February 6, 2026, on two counts of violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act. He was indicted in Count One for conspiracy to import tapentadol, a schedule II-controlled substance, into the United States from India, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C. §§ 952(a), 960(a)(1) and (b)(3), and 963. He was indicted in Count Two for Conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, tapentadol, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); §841(b)(1)(C), and 846. As to both counts, HORTON faces up to twenty (20) years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three (3) years of supervised release. There is also a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count.
According to the indictment, beginning on a time unknown, but prior to June 3, 2022, and continuing until the date of the indictment, HORTON conspired with others, both here in the Eastern District of Louisiana, and in India, to import tapentadol from India into the United States. Once HORTON obtained this imported tapentadol, he further conspired with other individuals to distribute the tapentadol throughout the greater New Orleans area.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Control, Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.
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Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Eastern District of Louisiana — U.S. Department of Justice press release.