Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
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.