Western District of Louisiana
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Statement from U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph Regarding Operations as a Result of COVID-19 and a Warning Against Fraud and Scams Related to CoronavirusRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/ALEXANDRIA/LAKE CHARLES/MONROE, La. – In response to the rapidly changing situation surrounding the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana is continuing operations, while working to mitigate risks to individual employees and the general public.
“My office and our federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation,” said U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph. “The public should rest assured that the U.S. Attorney’s Office remains open and is working on a daily basis with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to protect the public and ensure critical law enforcement operations continue without interruption. I am grateful to our attorneys and staff, as well as our law enforcement partners, for their unwavering dedication and commitment during this time.”
“Unfortunately, in troublesome times there are some in our society who try to take advantage of people with schemes designed to defraud them out of their money,” said Joseph. “People should be aware that there are now fraudsters selling false “cures” for COVID-19. The public should get information related to this coronavirus from reputable sources, such as the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), to avoid falling victim to scams. I would also ask that anyone who believes they have been targeted in any scam to report it to a law enforcement agency at the earliest opportunity.”
You can also learn more about coronavirus scams here: ftc.gov/coronavirus.
The public should continue to monitor the bulletins from the CDC (www.cdc.gov/COVID19) for the most accurate and up-to-date information on the fight against COVID-19.
# # #
Shreveport Man Convicted of Six Gunpoint Robberies and Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Following a four-day trial on Thursday, March 12, 2020, a federal jury in Shreveport convicted Christopher M.K. Dumas, 29, of Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, and related firearms crimes for his participation in five gunpoint robberies in Shreveport and one in Marshall, Texas, announced United States Attorney David C. Joseph.
The evidence at trial established that between March 17, 2017 and April 15, 2017, Dumas robbed at gunpoint, a Metro PCS store, H&S Grocery and Liquor, Inc., Werner Park Grocery, and Rodeway Inn & Suites, all located in Shreveport, and a Boost Mobile store in Marshall, Texas.
“The jury’s verdict holds this defendant responsible for his crime spree that terrorized his victims and the communities in which he operated,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to remove violent offenders from our streets. I would like to thank the prosecutors in my office for a job well done and the law enforcement officers for their hard work investigating this case.”
On March 17, 2017, and March 20, 2017, Dumas entered a Metro PCS store waving a .38 Colt Army revolver, demanding the money from the register and safe. He told one employee to put the money in the bag or he would shoot him in the leg. On March 17, Dumas left with $2,568 and on March 20, with $400. Dumas held-up an H&S Grocery and Liquor clerk at gunpoint on March 30, 3017, and told the clerk “give me all the money or I’ll shoot you.” The clerk gave Dumas all of the cash ($400) in the register.
On April 1, 2017, after having met with his parole officer earlier that morning, Dumas traveled to Marshall, Texas, where he robbed a Boost Mobile store. Dumas entered the store, leaped over the sales counter and pointed a.38 Colt revolver at the store clerk, demanding cash from the register. A neighboring business owner heard the store clerk scream and came to aid her. Dumas shot the business owner hitting him twice in the chest and then fled from the scene. A silver Nissan Versa with a dent on the driver’s side door was seen in the area before, during, and after the robbery and was captured on the surveillance cameras of the Greenwood Police Department traveling back to Shreveport.
On April 4, 2017, Dumas and his co-defendant Stafford King, robbed Werner Park Grocery at gunpoint. King put the revolver against the head of a store clerk and told the clerk to give him money. Dumas pointed his gun at another clerk’s head while also demanding money. Both defendants ran out of the store with an unknown amount of money and got into a silver car with a dent on the left side. On April 15, 2017, Dumas pointed a gun at a Rodeway Inn employee and demanded the money from the register. The clerk complied with Dumas’ demands and Dumas got away with $554. On March 20 and April 15, Dumas was also seen getting into a silver car with damage on the left side. Each robbery was captured by video surveillance.
Later on April 25, 2017, a Shreveport police officer saw the silver Nissan Versa matching the description from the robberies and pulled it over after a traffic violation. King was driving and Dumas was in the passenger seat. Law enforcement officers recovered hoodies, bandanas, and gloves from the car that matched descriptions from the robberies. Police also located 9 millimeter ammunition, consistent with a TEC-9 semi-automatic pistol used in the Werner Park and Rodeway Inn robberies and three other weapons from the Nissan Versa.
Dumas, a previously convicted felon, was on state parole for simple burglary and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon at the time of the robberies. He was released on parole in January 2017 and started robbing in March.
Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. presided over the trial and set Christopher Dumas’ sentencing for July 22, 2020. Dumas faces 20 years in prison on each Hobbs Act robbery conviction and ten years imprisonment for being a felon in possession of ammunition. In addition, Dumas faces a mandatory minimum of ten years imprisonment for the armed robberies involving a TEC-9, and a mandatory, minimum of seven years imprisonment for the three remaining armed robbery convictions. Each conviction for using a weapon during a crime of violence carries with it a possibility of up to life in prison. Dumas also faces three to five years of supervised release for the various counts of conviction and a $250,000 fine.
Dumas’ co-defendant, Stafford King, pleaded guilty on August 12, 2019, to one violation each of the Hobbs Act and using of a firearm during a crime of violence. King’s sentencing is set for April 9, 2020. King has prior felony convictions for possession of a firearm with an obliterated number, possession of marijuana, illegal possession of stolen things and attempted battery.
The FBI, ATF, Shreveport Police Department, Marshall, Texas Police Department, and Greenwood Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cytheria D. Jernigan and Leon H. Whitten are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
# # #
United States Attorney David C. Joseph Hosts Inaugural "Law Enforcement Forum"Read the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, LAFAYETTE, MONROE, ALEXANDRIA, LAKE CHARLES, La. – This week, United States Attorney David C. Joseph hosted the Western District of Louisiana’s first Department of Justice sponsored Law Enforcement Forum on March 10, 2020, in Shreveport, and March 12, 2020, in Lafayette, focusing on terror threat analyses, legal updates, training in federal criminal law and procedure, and information pertaining to resources and assistance available to Louisiana’s federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies from the United States Attorney’s Office.
Approximately 171 state, local and federal officers representing law enforcement agencies from across Louisiana attended. Speakers and panelists included United States Attorney David C. Joseph, Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Western District of Louisiana, and law enforcement agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSI). The open-forum question and answer session panel of federal law enforcement agents and Assistant U.S. Attorneys was moderated by Alan Alkire, the Law Enforcement Coordinator for the Western District.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
# # #
Youngsville Man Pleads Guilty to Running a Million Dollar Investment Fraud and Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Donnie Laing Jr., 39, of Youngsville, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on Monday, March 9, 2020, to wire fraud in connection with a million dollar Ponzi scheme that he orchestrated through his limited liability company, Capital Energy Investments, LLC (“Capital”).
According to court documents, from April 2018 through November 2018, Laing operated a Ponzi scheme through Capital, a company that he used to set up a business bank account and solicit money from the victims of his scheme. Laing represented himself to be the owner of a legitimate business, Capital, that purchased and rented out oil and gas equipment – promising investors high rates of return on their investments. Investors believed that Capital would use their money to invest in oil and gas equipment, and then lease such equipment to companies engaged in oil and gas exploration activities for a profit. Instead, Laing used the victims’ investments for his own purposes.
Throughout the scheme, Laing submitted false proposals and contracts to his victims to persuade them to invest their money with Capital. He also used funds from new investors to make payments to previous investors under the guise that the payments represented legitimate profits and returns on the victims’ investments. These payments allowed the defendant to avoid detection and obtain additional funds from his victims. Laing also used his relationship with a former business associate living in northeast Louisiana to solicit money from investors. Throughout the course of the scheme, Laing defrauded multiple investors and received nine investor payments during the period from April 25, 2018 to October 29, 2018, totaling $1,215,530.
U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty presided over the hearing and set sentencing for July 27, 2020. Laing faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of approximately $2.4 million.
The FBI is investigating the case. United States Attorney David C. Joseph and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cadesby B. Cooper are prosecuting the case.
# # #
Houston, Texas Pastor Pleads Guilty to His Role in a Multimillion-Dollar Investment SchemeRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that Kirbyjon H. Caldwell, senior pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection to his role in a multimillion-dollar investment scheme. His codefendant, Gregory A. Smith, a Shreveport investment advisor, pled guilty on July 23, 2019, to the same charge.
“These defendants used their positions as religious leaders and investment advisors to defraud Louisiana residents – many of whom are elderly and retired,” stated U.S. Attorney Joseph. “In doing so, the defendants abused the trust and respect of their victims for the sole purpose of stealing their money. This type of deceit can be devastating for victims, especially when life savings are lost. My office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who use confidence schemes to prey upon the elderly and people of faith.”
According to information presented in court, Caldwell and Smith conspired to use their influence and status to persuade multiple victims to “invest” approximately $3.5 million with them. The victims’ investments were purportedly in historical Chinese bonds, which are bonds issued by the former Republic of China prior to losing power to the Communist government in 1949. These bonds are not recognized by China’s current government and, accordingly, have no investment value.
Smith began approaching existing clients and acquaintances in the spring of 2013 about what he described as an opportunity to invest in historical Chinese bonds. His usual sales pitch to investors was that Caldwell was (1) putting the bond deal together on behalf of investors, (2) had the bonds in his possession or was obtaining them, and (3) was brokering a deal to sell the bonds. Smith also promised that by investing money with him and Caldwell, the victims would obtain a partial ownership of the bonds and would quickly receive exponential returns on their investments. The victims were not told of the true nature of the bonds nor were they informed that no previous investor had ever obtained the promised return on an investment. The victims were encouraged to cash out any other investments they might have if they could not otherwise afford to participate.
After Smith made the fraudulent pitch, the victims were instructed to wire funds to various bank accounts under Caldwell’s control. In 2013 and 2014, approximately $3.5 million was “invested.” The funds were divided between Caldwell, Smith, and others. Caldwell used the approximately $900,000 that he received to pay down personal loans, mortgages, and credit cards, and maintain his lifestyle. Smith received $1.08 million. He used this money to pay down loans, purchase two luxury sport utility vehicles, place a down payment on a vacation property, and maintain his lifestyle. After time passed and investors began to question why they had not received the promised returns, Caldwell and Smith offered excuses, defended the legitimacy of the deals, and assured victim-investors that they would receive the promised returns.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Caldwell faces between five and seven years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. Caldwell, who has already made partial restitution to the victims, has agreed to pay the remaining balance, $1,951,478.00, before sentencing.
Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. presided at the hearing and set Caldwell’s sentencing for July 22, 2020. Smith’s sentencing is scheduled for May 4, 2020.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth D. Reeg and C. Mignonne Griffing are prosecuting the case.
This case was included in the Justice Department’s largest-ever nationwide elder fraud sweep in 2019, which included hundreds of enforcement actions in criminal and civil cases that targeted or disproportionately affected seniors. A list of Elder Fraud cases by the Department of Justice is provided on this interactive map.
The recently launched National Elder Fraud Hotline provides services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. The Hotline will be staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers. Case managers will assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and will provide resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed. When applicable, case managers will complete a complaint form with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the caller. The Hotline’s toll-free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
For more information about DOJ’s efforts to prevent and combat elder abuse, please visit the Elder Justice Website at https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office of Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
# # #
WDLA News Round-Up for Week of March 2, 2020Read the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, MONROE, ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced the resolution of several cases this week, all of which are separately noted.
SENTENCING – TORY DARBY MONTGOMERY
LAFAYETTE, La. - On March 3, Tory Darby Montgomery, 23, of Youngsville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 32 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Lafayette Police Department responded to a complaint on June 21, 2018, of two males walking with a firearm in the Louisiana Avenue area. The officers located two males who matched the description provided by the complaint and made contact with them. One male ran from the officers, but Montgomery stayed and cooperated. Montgomery acknowledged that he had a loaded Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum in his waistband. Montgomery is a convicted felon and prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm and ammunition. In July 2015, he was convicted in the 15th Judicial District Court of simple burglary and accessory after the fact, simple burglary. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Lafayette Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog prosecuted the case. U.S. District Judge Michael J. Juneau presided at the sentencing hearing.
SENTENCING – DERRICK CURRY
MONROE, La. - On March 4, Derrick Wayne Curry, 50, of Monroe, Louisiana, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. On July 12, 2018, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s deputies observed Curry on a bicycle violating traffic laws by traveling down a street against the flow of oncoming traffic, and without a functioning rear light. When the deputies attempted to make contact with him, Curry jumped off of his bike and started to run, while throwing an object in the air that he had pulled from his waistband. When the deputies caught up to Curry, they found him wearing a black nylon gun holster attached to his belt, and found a Taurus, Model: PT-92 AF, 9 mm-caliber pistol, loaded with 16 rounds of 9 mm bullets, 10 feet from where he was taken into custody. Curry is a convicted felon and prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm and ammunition. In May 1990, he was convicted of armed robbery. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica D. Cassidy and Cytheria D. Jernigan prosecuted the case. U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty presided at the sentencing hearing.
SENTENCING – JMARREON D. MACK
MONROE, La. - On March 4, Jmarreon D. Mack, 38, of Monroe, was sentenced to 17 and a half years in federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Mack was found guilty on November 14, 2019, following a two-day jury trial in Monroe. Evidence presented during trial revealed that an officer with Louisiana State Police initiated a stop of Mack’s vehicle on April 12, 2018, for a traffic violation. As the trooper approached the vehicle, he smelled marijuana coming from inside. During a search of the vehicle, the trooper and an officer with the Monroe Police Department found a Glock .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber. In addition to the firearm, officers also found approximately 23.5 grams of marijuana in a bag on the front driver’s seat, a marijuana cigar, a marijuana grinder, and a digital scale. The gun that Mack possessed had been reported stolen. Jmarreon Mack has prior felony convictions in Ouachita Parish for possession of cocaine (2005 and 2014), attempted distribution of cocaine (2005), and possession with intent to distribute cocaine (2008). The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Louisiana State Police, Monroe Police Department, Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office and Rayville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cadesby Cooper and Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case. U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty presided at the sentencing hearing.
SENTENCING – JACOB STAGGS
MONROE, La. - On March 4, Jacob Staggs, 38, of West Monroe, Louisiana, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm. West Monroe Police Department officers encountered Staggs during a traffic stop on April 24, 2019. Staggs was the passenger in the vehicle. During the course of the traffic stop, the officers discovered a loaded Smith & Wesson .380 pistol located in the back right pocket of Staggs’ pants. Officers also found a pill bottle containing Etizolam, Buprenorphine, Acetyl Fentanyl, Fentanyl, Tramadol, ANPP, Carisoprodol, and Tapentadol in Staggs’ front left pants pocket. Staggs is a convicted felon and prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm and ammunition. He has previous felony convictions for possession of Methamphetamine, possession of Diazepam, possession of Methadone, and resisting an officer with force of violence (December 2018). The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and West Monroe Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan prosecuted the case. U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty presided at the sentencing hearing.
SENTENCING – WILLIE JAMES COOK
MONROE, La. - On March 4, Willie James Cook, 29, of Monroe, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm. On August 29, 2018, officers with the Monroe Police Department executed a search warrant at an apartment on Dixie Avenue. During that search, officers discovered a loaded Springfield Armory .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun inside Cook’s backpack in a bedroom where he had been staying. Cook is a convicted felon and prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm and ammunition. Cook’s prior felony convictions in the 4th Judicial District Court include simple battery (2010 and 2016), possession of cocaine (2015), domestic abuse battery (2015), and resisting an officer (2016). The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Monroe Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael T. Shannon prosecuted the case. U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty presided at the sentencing hearing.
SENTENCING – BRANDON HARRIS
MONROE, La. - On March 4, Brandon Keith Harris, 32, of Bastrop, Louisiana, was sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, which will run concurrent to Harris’ parole violation pending in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana. On the evening of July 14, 2018, Harris broke into Simmons’ Sporting Goods in Bastrop, Louisiana and stole seven guns. Federal law prohibits Harris from ever possessing a firearm because of his status as a convicted felon. He has multiple felony convictions in Morehouse Parish including: the manufacture and possession of a bomb (2005), possession of methamphetamine (2009), simple burglary, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2014). This case is a joint federal and local investigation into the July 14, 2018 break-in and firearm theft. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Bastrop Police Department, and Morehouse Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael T. Shannon prosecuted the case. U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty presided at the sentencing hearing.
GUILTY PLEA – MANUEL KING
LAFAYETTE, La. – On March 5, Manuel King, 30, of Lafayette, pled guilty to three counts of carjacking. King, a previously convicted felon, carjacked three separate people on February 20, 2019. The first victim was standing next to his Jeep Grand Cherokee in a Wal-Mart parking lot when King approached and threatened him with a Kimber 9mm semi-automatic pistol. King took the victim’s wallet and drove away in the vehicle. Shortly thereafter, King crashed the Jeep and proceeded to carjack a second victim. He crashed that car and then carjacked a third victim. He was pursued by police, eventually crashing the third car into a pond. At that point, he was arrested and was still in possession of the 9mm pistol he used during each carjacking incident. King’s wallet was found in the second victim’s vehicle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Lafayette Police Department, and Lafayette City Marshal’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy is prosecuting the case. U.S. District Judge Robert R. Summerhays presided over the hearing and set sentencing for June 18, 2020. For each count, King faces up to 15 years in federal custody, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
GUILTY PLEA – CASEY BERLIN
ALEXANDRIA, La. - On March 5, Casey Berlin, 36, of Alexandria, pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. During an investigation for a residential burglary, Alexandria Police Department officers identified Berlin as a suspect and arrested him on March 22, 2019. During the arrest, officers found a Ruger carbine .22 caliber rifle propped against a kitchen cabinet. Berlin told officers that someone gave him the rifle to hold as collateral for a debt owed. As a convicted felon, Berlin was aware that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. He was previously convicted of possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Dangerous Substance in September 2016. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Alexandria Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy is prosecuting the case. U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell presided over the hearing and set sentencing for June 22, 2020. Berlin faces up to 10 years in federal custody, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
The firearms cases were brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
# # #
U.S. Attorney's Office Reaches Agreement with DeSoto Parish to Increase Accessibility Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana David C. Joseph announced the signing of an agreement with DeSoto Parish to improve access to all aspects of civic life for persons with disabilities. The agreement is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Civic Access (PCA), a wide-ranging effort to ensure that parishes/counties, cities, towns, and villages comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by working to eliminate barriers that may prevent people with disabilities from participating fully in community and civic life.
DeSoto Parish has worked cooperatively with the Department of Justice and, in signing the settlement, has made significant progress in meeting ADA requirements. Under the settlement agreement, DeSoto Parish will remove barriers to accessibility in buildings, such as government office buildings providing services to its citizens, courthouses, sheriff’s offices, and detention centers. The agreement also requires DeSoto Parish to:
- make physical modifications of facilities to improve accessibility, such as accessible parking, accessible routes into and through the facilities, accessible restrooms, and the provision of services at alternate, accessible locations;
- train staff regarding the requirements of the ADA and appropriate ways of ensuring program access;
- ensure effective communication to individuals with disabilities, including individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing or blind or have low vision; and
- post and publish the identity and functions of the Parish ADA Coordinator, as well as the Parish’s ADA Grievance Procedure Policy.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana stands firm in its commitment to advance the goals of equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph. “Our office will continue to support the rights of individuals with disabilities to access civic life.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen J. King handled the case. For more information about the ADA, the agreement and the PCA initiative, individuals may access the ADA web page at: www.ada.gov/civicac.htm or call the toll-free ADA Information Line at: 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TTY).
# # #
- make physical modifications of facilities to improve accessibility, such as accessible parking, accessible routes into and through the facilities, accessible restrooms, and the provision of services at alternate, accessible locations;
Mexican National Admits His Role in Transporting Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Ezequiel Vega-Solano, a 22-year old Mexican national, previously residing in Foley, Alabama, pleaded guilty today to illegal alien transportation, announced U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph. Vega-Solano, originally from Sonora, Mexico, was in the United States as a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient.
On June 26, 2019, Vega-Solano was transporting three illegal aliens on Interstate 10 near Lake Charles when a Louisiana State trooper pulled his vehicle over for a traffic violation. The trooper contacted U.S. Border Patrol in Lake Charles for assistance with the three passengers in the vehicle. When Border Patrol agents arrived, they spoke with Vega-Solano, the driver of the vehicle, who claimed that he and the passengers had traveled to Houston to attend an event.
Border Patrol agents determined that the three passengers in the vehicle were in the United States illegally and arrested Vega-Solano for alien smuggling. Vega-Solano later admitted to the agents that he was aware the passengers were in the United States illegally. He had agreed to transport two of them from Houston back to Foley for $1,500.
Ivan Velasquez-Lopez, one of the passengers in the vehicle, had traveled with Vega-Solano from Foley to Houston. Velasquez-Lopez, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr. on August 15, 2019, to re-entering the United States after previously being removed on three occasions. The other two passengers had no prior immigration history and were taken into custody for further immigration proceedings.
Judge Cain presided over the hearing today and scheduled sentencing for June 11, 2020. Vega-Solano faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. On June 27, 2019, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a notice terminating Vega-Solano’s DACA status.
United States Border Patrol and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo is prosecuting the case.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
# # #
WDLA News Round-UpRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced the resolution of two Project Safe Childhood cases last week, each separately noted.
SENTENCING – JOHN MICHAEL WARD
Westlake Man Sentenced to 60 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography
Ward was the former pastor of Bellview Baptist Church
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that John Michael Ward, 45, of Westlake, Louisiana, was sentenced on February 19, 2020, to 60 years in federal prison after pleading guilty in November 2019 to two counts of production of child pornography. U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr. sentenced Ward to 30 years for each count, to run consecutively, and a lifetime term of court supervision.
According to information presented to the court, Ward, the former pastor of Bellview Baptist Church in Westlake, sexually abused a minor female for two years, and on two occasions, coerced the minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of capturing sexually explicit videos of the minor.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) also encourage the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) 347-2423. Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls. Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online by visiting their website at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp or through the Operation Predator smartphone application www.ice.gov/predator/smartphone-app. Tips may be submitted anonymously.
SENTENCING – JAMES GAHARAN
Former LeGrange High School Teacher Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Pornography
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that James Gaharan, 56, of Laker Charles, was sentenced on February 19, 2020, by U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr., to 97 months in prison for possession of child pornography. Following his imprisonment, Gaharan will be supervised by the United States Probation Office for 10 years and will be required to register with the state sex offender registry in any state in which he lives or works. Gaharan pleaded guilty on September 18, 2019.
According to information disclosed during court proceedings, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office (CPSO) received a complaint that Gaharan, a school teacher at LeGrange High School, was having a sexual relationship with a student. After an interview with Gaharan, CPSO obtained a court approved search warrant of his residence. When officers arrived at Gaharan’s residence, they discovered a program running on his computer which was in the process of wiping the hard drive clean. At that point the wipe was 96% complete. Officers also found a jump drive in Gaharan’s book satchel. A subsequent forensic examination of the jump drive revealed over 1,500 child pornography images of mainly young, prepubescent children. Gaharan had downloaded these images from the internet.
The FBI and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Those concerned may leave tips with the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Tips may be submitted anonymously.
# # #
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
DEA Announces Launch of Operation Crystal ShieldRead the Press Release
Attorney General William P. Barr and Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon announced on February 20, 2020, that the DEA will direct enforcement resources to methamphetamine “transportation hubs” — areas where methamphetamine is often trafficked in bulk and then distributed across the country. While continuing to focus on stopping drugs being smuggled across the border, DEA’s Operation Crystal Shield will ramp up enforcement to block their further distribution into America’s neighborhoods.
DEA has identified eight major methamphetamine transportation hubs where these efforts will be concentrated: Atlanta, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Phoenix, and St. Louis. Together, these DEA Field Divisions accounted for more than 75 percent of methamphetamine seized in the U.S. in 2019.
“While meth is not a new drug, it has seen a troubling resurgence over the past few years,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Manufactured mostly in Mexican labs and smuggled into the United States across the southwest border, meth is a drug that is both cheap and potent, creating a deadly combination. Just as the Trump Administration has acted swiftly to stem the tide of opioid fatalities, it will use every weapon in its arsenal – such as the DEA’s Operation Crystal Shield - to stop dangerous methamphetamine from reaching American neighborhoods and harming American families.”
“Illegal drugs are wreaking havoc on our communities. Finding and prosecuting those who sell this poison is a priority of my office,” said David C. Joseph, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners each day to disrupt drug trafficking networks, imprison their participants, and forfeit any proceeds to the United States. Make no mistake, crystal methamphetamine is a grave threat to the well-being of our citizens.”
Operation Crystal Shield builds on existing DEA initiatives that target major drug trafficking networks, including the Mexican cartels that are responsible for the overwhelming majority of methamphetamine trafficked into and within the United States. From FY 2017 to FY 2019, DEA domestic seizures of methamphetamine increased 127 percent from 49,507 pounds to 112,146 pounds. During the same time frame, the number of DEA arrests related to methamphetamine rose nearly twenty percent.
“For decades, methamphetamine has been a leading cause of violence and addiction – a drug threat that has never gone away,” said Acting Administrator Dhillon. “With a 22 percent increase in methamphetamine-related overdose deaths, now is the time to act, and DEA is leading the way with a surge of interdiction efforts and resources, targeting regional transportation hubs throughout the United States. By reducing the supply of meth, we reduce the violence, addiction, and death it spreads.”
DEA New Orleans Field Division Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley said, “Methamphetamine destroys lives and is one of the primary drivers of violence across the nation, including here in our four-state region. Operation Crystal Shield will build on DEA’s ongoing efforts to hold meth dealers accountable. We will continue to seize their profits, shut down their distribution networks, and put dealers where they belong – behind bars. By continuing to target local distribution networks in this transportation hub, DEA and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners are working to reduce violent crime and improve the quality of life for the citizens in our area and beyond.”
The DEA New Orleans Field Division, which covers Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas, is seeing a significant increase in the amount of methamphetamine seized, up 58 percent in the last year.
Virtually all methamphetamine in the United States comes through major ports of entry along the Southwest Border and is transported by tractor trailers and personal vehicles along the nation’s highways to major transfer centers around the country. It is often found in poly-drug loads, alongside cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl.
Parents and children are encouraged to educate themselves about the dangers of drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com, and www.dea.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
# # #
Western District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney's Office Collects More Than $44 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions for U.S. Taxpayers in Fiscal Year 2019Read the Press Release
SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/ALEXANDRIA/LAKE CHARLES/MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana collected over $44 million in civil and criminal actions in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. Of this amount, $24,561,613.58 was collected in civil actions, and $3,554,319.45 was collected in criminal actions handled solely by the Western District.
The office also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $16,094,499.63 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Collections included $16,088,679.32 in civil actions and $5,820.31 in criminal actions.
The Financial Litigation Unit (FLU) of the U.S. Attorney’s Office collected $1,210,112.31 through garnishment actions filed by the FLU and $456,477.07 through the Treasury Offset Program, which allows for the offset of funds payable by the United States to certain delinquent debts owed to the United States.
Overall, the Justice Department collected a total of just over $9.3 billion in civil and criminal actions in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019.
“The $44 million collected by our office is a credit to the outstanding work performed by our attorneys and staff, each of whom are deeply committed to finding and collecting monies owed to the United States and crime victims,” Joseph stated. “We look forward to continuing our work to recover any and all money owed to taxpayers and to those whose lives have been impacted by crime.
FY 2019 Collections Highlights
Evangeline Enterprises LLC of Carencro, Louisiana, a racehorse training-center operator, agreed to pay $300,000 in October 2018 in civil penalties to settle Clean Water Act claims filed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). The settlement resolved claims by EPA and LDEQ that Evangeline illegally discharged process wastewater, contaminated with horse manure, urine, and other biological materials, from its facility into the Vermilion River and its tributary Francois Coulee, in violation of the Clean Water Act and the Louisiana Environmental Quality Act.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla/pr/carencro-race-horse-training-center-owner-will-pay-civil-penalties-and-perform
In January 2019, Sunoco Pipeline L.P. agreed to pay the United States $5 million in federal civil penalties, resulting from a joint federal-state Clean Water Act (CWA) enforcement action filed in the Western District of Louisiana, to resolve alleged CWA violations stemming from three crude oil spills in 2013, 2014, and 2015 in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla/pr/sunoco-pipeline-lp-pay-more-54m-and-take-oil-spill-prevention-steps-settle-claims
In May 2019, Morrison & Dickson Company, LLC, the largest privately owned wholesale pharmaceutical distributor in the United States and the fourth largest in the country, entered into a settlement agreement with the United States in which Morris & Dickson agreed to pay $22 million in civil penalties to resolve claims that it violated the Controlled Substances Act. The claims against Morris & Dickson arose from a Drug Enforcement Administration Office of Diversion Control investigation into Morris & Dickson’s failure to report suspicious orders of hydrocodone and oxycodone. DEA Diversion agents identified more than 12,000 allegedly suspicious retail pharmacy orders that should have been reported since January 2014.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla/pr/us-attorney-david-c-joseph-announces-settlement-louisiana-drug-distributor-resolving
In September 2019, Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana and its related companies, and the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College agreed to pay $531,241.74 in damages to resolve claims that they violated the False Claims Act and other laws while operating University Health Hospital in Shreveport. The Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana and LSU were alleged to have sought and obtained payment from Medicare for procedures that required reporting to a qualified registry. The procedures that they failed to report involved implantable automatic defibrillators, which are electronic devices designed to detect and treat life-threatening tachyarrhythmias. This settlement resolves allegations originally brought in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla/pr/qui-tam-lawsuit-and-federal-investigation-results-half-million-dollar-settlement
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is charged with enforcing federal criminal laws and representing the federal government in civil litigation. The Western District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney’s Office covers 42 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes and includes the cities of Shreveport, Lafayette, Alexandria, Lake Charles, and Monroe. The office is composed of approximately 40 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and approximately 41 staff members at offices in Shreveport and Lafayette.
# # #
Five Defendants Appeared in Federal Court This Week for Firearms and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced the resolution of several cases this week, all of which are separately noted.
SENTENCING – ALBERT MICKLUS III
Multi-Convicted Felon from Boyce Sentenced to Over Eight Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Albert Micklus III, 31, of Boyce, Louisiana, was sentenced on February 11, 2020, by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to 100 months in federal prison and one year of supervised release, after pleading guilty on November 6, 2019, to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
During the execution of an arrest warrant on April 24, 2018, officers with the U.S. Marshal’s Service Task Force found Micklus hidden in a camper and in possession of a Smith & Wesson M&P 5.56mm AR-15 rifle that he admitted to stealing during a home invasion.
Prior to his arrest on April 24, 2018, Micklus’ criminal history included felony convictions for attempted entry of an inhabited dwelling and contributing to the delinquency of a minor (2009), simple burglary and criminal conspiracy (2012), and possession of a controlled dangerous substance (2017). At the time of his arrest, he had outstanding state arrest warrants for attempted first degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, home invasion, aggravated cruelty to animals, domestic abuse battery, and second degree battery.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshal’s Service, Louisiana State Police, and the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon H. Whitten prosecuted the case.
SENTENCING – DANIEL ELLSWORTH
Felon Sent Back to Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Daniel Lee Ellsworth, 29, of Alexandria, was sentenced on February 11, 2020, by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to 32 months in prison and one year of supervised release, after pleading guilty on October 21, 2019, to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On September 11, 2018, parole officers went to Ellsworth’s residence to conduct a compliance check. Ellsworth was on state probation at the time for a felony conviction in Rapides Parish for attempted possession of a firearm by a felon. While there, officers found a loaded 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun in his bedroom. Ellsworth is a multiple-time convicted felon, and admitted that he knew his status as a convicted felon prohibited him from possessing firearms or ammunition. There is no parole in the federal system.
Daniel Ellsworth has prior felony convictions in Rapides Parish for simple burglary (2009), possession of marijuana (2015), attempted possession of a firearm by a felon (2015), and drug paraphernalia (2018). He also has a prior felony conviction in Calcasieu Parish for illegal use of a weapon (2013). It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess firearms or ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections’ Division of Probation and Parole conducted the investigation. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison D. Bushnell and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael T. Shannon prosecuted the case.
SENTENCING – RONALD LOUIS HALL JR.
Alexandria Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Firearms and Drug Offenses
ALEXANDRIA – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Ronald Louis Hall Jr., 29, of Alexandria, Louisiana, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell, to 10 years in federal prison for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone. Judge Drell also sentenced Hall to three years of supervised release following his release from prison. Hall pled guilty to these charges on November 14, 2019.
On January 6, 2019, while traveling in Rapides Parish, a Louisiana State trooper initiated a stop of Hall’s vehicle for two traffic violations. As the officer approached the vehicle to make contact with Hall, he encountered the smell of burnt marijuana. Hall admitted to smoking marijuana earlier and consented to a search of his vehicle. During the search, officers found a 9mm extended magazine containing 16 rounds of ammunition in the glove compartment. Officers later discovered a hidden compartment in the vehicle that held five plastic cellophane bags containing 452 Oxycodone pills, a powerful opioid.
Hall has prior felony narcotics convictions in Rapides Parish for possession of marijuana second offense (2013) and third offense (2015), and possession with intent to distribute cocaine (2014). It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess firearms or ammunition.
The FBI Central Louisiana Safe Streets Task Force, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog prosecuted the case.
GUILTY PLEA – WILLIS ELMER LACOUR
Alexandria Man Admits to Distributing Methamphetamine
ALEXANDRIA, La. –United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Willis Elmer Lacour, 39, entered a guilty plea today before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell, for distribution of methamphetamine.
According to information presented to the court, Lacour was known to law enforcement as a multi-convicted drug felon who was distributing methamphetamine in and around Central Louisiana. On December 4, 2019, agents with the FBI Central Louisiana Safe Streets Task Force arrested Lacour for distribution of approximately 460 grams of methamphetamine. At the time of his arrest, officers found $1,851 in Lacour’s pocket and $5,640 in the glove compartment of the vehicle he was driving. Lacour claimed ownership of the cash found in the glove compartment and admitted to distributing the methamphetamine.
Lacour faces up to 10 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $10,000 fine at his sentencing on May 15, 2020.
The FBI Central Louisiana Safe Streets Task Force and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Crawford is prosecuting the case.
GUILTY PLEA – KENTRELL DEMARCIA TURNER
Armed Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty in Federal Court
SHREVEPORT, La. – A Shreveport resident pleaded guilty in federal court to violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced.
Kentrell Demarcia Turner, 28, pleaded guilty on February 12, 2020, before Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr., to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
During routine patrol on February 23, 2018, a Shreveport Police officer detected the smell of marijuana coming from a parked vehicle. As the officer approached the vehicle, Turner exited and stood near the open driver’s side door. Once out of the vehicle, officers could see a large plastic bag containing marijuana on the center console and a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol on the driver’s side floorboard. The pistol was loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition. Officers also discovered $3,509 in Turner’s left front pocket. After Turner was transported to the Shreveport City Jail, he attempted to remove powder cocaine that he had hidden on his body. An inventory of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of cocaine rocks found on the floorboard behind the driver’s seat.
Turner has prior felony convictions from 2011 and 2012 in Caddo Parish for possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess firearms or ammunition.
Judge Hicks scheduled sentencing for June 25, 2020, at which time Turner faces up to 20 years in prison for the cocaine charge, and five years in prison for the firearm charge.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown is prosecuting the case.
# # #
The firearms cases were brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
The firearms cases are also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Former Valex Federal Credit Union Employee Sentenced for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – A former Valex Federal Credit Union loan officer and assistant manager was sentenced today to 21 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release for bank fraud, announced United States Attorney David C. Joseph.
U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell also ordered Cynthia J. Feazell, 49, of Montgomery, Louisiana, to pay $221,426.44 in restitution to Valex Federal Credit Union’s insurer, CUNA Mutual – CUMIS Insurance (CUMIS). According to court documents, Feazell worked as a loan officer and assistant manager at Valex Federal Credit Union (Valex) in Rapides Parish from 1997 to 2016. The defendant decided to purchase a mobile home in 2015 and obtained loan funds from Valex. She did not qualify for the loan, so she transferred three vehicle loans taken out in her name to her mother’s name in order to lower her debt-to-equity ratio so that it would appear she qualified for the loan. Additionally, Feazell authorized loans for her ex-husband, even though she knew he did not meet the Valex credit requirements. Feazell admitted at her guilty plea on September 10, 2019, that she falsified documents to accomplish the scheme and was aware her actions were fraudulent.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly P. Uebinger prosecuted the case.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
# # #
Un hombre de Luisiana se declara culpable de prender fuego a tres iglesias bautistas en la Parroquia de St. LandryRead the Press Release
Holden Matthews, de 22 años, se declaró culpable hoy en el Distrito Occidental de Luisiana de prender fuego intencionalmente a tres iglesias bautistas por motivo del carácter religioso de esos edificios. En concreto, Matthews se declaró culpable ante tres cargos de vulneración de la ley de Prevención de Incendios Provocados en Iglesias, Sección 247(a)(1) del Título 18 del Código de los EE. UU. —un cargo por cada iglesia— y un cargo de uso de incendio para la comisión de un delito federal, lo que contraviene la Sección 844(h) del Título 18 del Código de los EE. UU. Los incendios, que Matthews provocó a lo largo de un período de diez días entre marzo y abril del 2019, destrozaron completamente a cada una de las iglesias.
En la audiencia en la que se declaró culpable, Matthews admitió que entre el 26 de marzo y el 4 de abril, provocó incendios intencionalmente en tres iglesias bautistas, cuyas congregaciones son mayoritariamente afroestadounidenses, en la zona de Opelousas, Luisiana. Primero, el 26 de marzo del 2019, Matthews provocó un incendio en a la Iglesia Bautista St. Mary en Port Barre, Luisiana. Luego, el 2 de abril del 2019, Matthews provocó un incendio en la Iglesia Bautista Greater Union en Opelousas, Luisiana. Finalmente, el 4 de abril del 2019, Matthews provocó un incendio en la Iglesia Bautista Mount Pleasant en Opelousas, Luisiana. Los incendios que Matthews provocó destrozaron cada una de las iglesias. Matthews admitió que provocó los incendios por el carácter religioso de los edificios, en un intento de realzar su imagen como músico de «black metal» al copiar delitos similares que cometidos en Noruega en los años 90. Más aún, Matthews admitió que, tras prender el tercer fuego, había colgado fotografías y vídeos en Facebook que mostraban las primeras dos iglesias quemándose. Matthews admitió que había tomado esos vídeos y fotografías en tiempo real en su celular mientras se quedó viendo las iglesias quemarse y que los había colgado en Facebook en un intento de realzar su imagen en la comunidad de black metal.
«El Departamento de Justicia se mantiene firme en su compromiso a proteger el derecho al culto sin amenazas de discriminación o violencia», afirmó el Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles, Eric Dreiband. «Matthews admitió que prendió fuego a las tres iglesias por motivo de su carácter religioso. Su conducta desgraciada vulneró los derechos civiles de los feligreses de la iglesia y dañó a sus comunidades».
«Hoy, el acusado se ha hecho responsable de la quema y destrucción de nuestras tres iglesias», dijo David C. Joseph, el Fiscal Federal para el Distrito Occidental de Luisiana. «La libertad de culto y reunión segura en nuestras iglesias es un derecho fundamental de todo estadounidense, y mi oficina y nuestras agencias asociadas del orden público lo defenderemos enérgicamente. Quisiera dar las gracias a la Agencia de Control de Bebidas Alcohólicas, Tabaco, Armas de Fuego y Explosivos (ATF, por sus siglas en inglés), el Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI, por sus siglas en inglés), la Oficina del Sheriff de la Parroquia de St. Landry, los Bomberos de la Parroquia de St. Landry, el Jefe de Bomberos del Estado de Luisiana, la Unidad de Delitos Cibernéticos del Fiscal General de Luisiana, la Policía Estatal de Luisiana y el Jefe de Bomberos del Estados de Florida por su trabajo intenso y colaboración continua en este caso».
«Holden Matthews tomó una decisión consciente de elegir como objetivo y destrozar iglesias dentro de su propia comunidad. Sus acciones atroces infligieron dolores y angustias graves en aquellas congregaciones, así como en toda la Parroquia de St. Landry», declaró Bryan Vorndran, el Agente Especial Encargado del FBI en la Oficina Local de Nueva Orleans. «A lo largo de esta investigación, los hombres y las mujeres del FBI, la ATF, la Oficina del Jefe de Bomberos del Estado de Luisiana, la Oficina del Sheriff de la Parroquia de St. Landry, la Fiscalía de Distrito para la Parroquia de St. Landry, la Policía Estatal de Luisiana, la Unidad de Delitos Cibernéticos del Fiscal General de Luisiana Jeff Landry y la Oficina del Jefe de Bomberos del Estado de Florida trabajaron sin tregua para llevar a Holden Matthews ante la justicia».
«Una parte vital de nuestra misión es la protección de las comunidades», comentó el Agente Especial Encargados de la ATF Kurt Thielhorn. «La ATF seguirá aportando sus recursos y experiencia a la investigación de incendios provocados en lugares de culto, los que amenazan el bienestar de nuestras comunidades. Quiero dar las gracias a todas nuestras agencias del orden público por haberse esforzado tanto en garantizar que se haga justicia».
Matthews será condenado el 22 de mayo del 2020. Se enfrenta a una pena mínima de diez años de cárcel y una pena máxima legal de 70 años de cárcel.
Este caso fue investigado por el Equipo Nacional de Respuesta de la ATF; la Oficina Satélite en Lafayette de la División Local de la ATF de Nueva Orleans; la Agencia Residente en Lafayette de la Oficina Local del FBI en Nueva Orleans; la Oficina del Jefe de Bomberos del Estado de Luisiana, la Policía Estatal de Luisiana; la Unidad de Delitos Cibernéticos del Estado de Luisiana; los Bomberos de la Parroquía de St. Landry; y la Oficina Sheriff de la Parroquia de St. Landry. El Fiscal Federal John Luke Walker, de la Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito Occidental de Luisiana, y la Abogada de Litigios Risa Berkower, de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia son responsables del enjuiciamiento del caso.
Para más información sobre el trabajo del Departamento de Justicia por combatir y prevenir los delitos de odio, vaya a www.justice.gov/hatecrimes: es un portal único con enlaces a recursos del Departamento de Justicia relacionados con delitos de odio para la policía, los medios de comunicación, investigadores, víctimas, grupos de apoyo, y otras organizaciones y personas.
Opelousas Man Pleads Guilty to Burning Three Baptist Churches in St. Landry ParishRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that Holden Matthews, 22, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Lafayette to intentionally setting fire to three Baptist churches because of the religious character of those buildings. Specifically, Matthews pleaded guilty to three counts of violating the Church Arson Prevention Act—one count for each church—as well as one count of using fire to commit a federal felony. The fires, which Matthews set over a ten-day period in March and April of 2019, completely destroyed each of the church buildings. United States District Court Judge Robert R. Summerhays presided over the hearing.
At the plea hearing, Matthews admitted that, between March 26 and April 4, 2019, he intentionally set fire to three Baptist churches with predominantly African-American congregations in the Opelousas, Louisiana area. First, on March 26, 2019, Matthews set fire to St. Mary Baptist Church in Port Barre, Louisiana. Next, on April 2, 2019, Matthews set fire to the Greater Union Baptist Church, in Opelousas, Louisiana. Then, on April 4, 2019, Matthews set fire to the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas, Louisiana. The fires Matthews set destroyed each of the church buildings. Matthews admitted to setting the fires because of the religious character of these buildings, in an effort to raise his profile as a “Black Metal” musician by copying similar crimes committed in Norway in the 1990s. Matthews further admitted that, after setting the third fire, he posted photographs and videos on Facebook that showed the first two churches burning. Matthews admitted that he had taken these photographs and videos in real time on his cell phone, as he watched those churches burn, and that he had posted them to Facebook in an effort to promote himself in the Black Metal community.
“Today, the defendant has taken responsibility for the burning and destruction of three of our churches,” said U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph. “The freedom to safely congregate and worship in our churches is a fundamental right of all Americans and will be vigorously protected by my office and our law enforcement partners. I want to thank the ATF, FBI, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Landry Parish Fire Department, Louisiana State Fire Marshal, Louisiana Attorney General’s Cybercrime Unit, Louisiana State Police, and the Florida State Fire Marshal for their hard work and seamless collaboration on this case.”
“The Department of Justice will remain unwavering in its protection of the freedom to practice religion without the threat of discrimination or violence,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “Matthews admitted to setting fire to three churches because of their religious character. His disgraceful conduct violated the civil rights of the church’s parishioners and harmed their communities.”
“Protecting our communities is a vital part of our mission,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn. “ATF will continue to provide expertise and resources to investigate arson at houses of worship which threaten the well-being of our communities. I would like to thank all of our law enforcement partners for working tirelessly to ensure justice will be served.”
“Holden Matthews made a conscious decision to randomly target and destroy churches within his own community,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Bryan Vorndran. “His atrocious actions inflicted severe pain and grief upon these congregations, as well as all of St. Landry Parish. Throughout this investigation, the men and women of the FBI, ATF, Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Landry Parish District Attorney’s Office, Louisiana State Police, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry’s Cybercrime Unit, and the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office worked tirelessly to bring Holden Matthews to justice.”
Matthews will be sentenced on May 22, 2020. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, and a statutory maximum sentence of 70 years in prison.
This case was investigated by the ATF’s National Response Team, the Lafayette Satellite Office of the ATF’s New Orleans Field Division, the Lafayette Resident Agency of the FBI’s New Orleans Field Office, the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal, the Louisiana State Police, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation’s Cyber Crimes Unit, the St. Landry Parish Fire Department, and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Luke Walker, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana, and Trial Attorney Risa Berkower of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
For more information about the Department of Justice’s work to combat and prevent hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes: a one-stop portal with links to Department of Justice hate crimes resources for law enforcement, media, researchers, victims, advocacy groups, and other organizations and individuals.
# # #
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Burning Three Baptist Churches in St. Landry ParishRead the Press Release
Holden Matthews, 22, pleaded guilty today in the Western District of Louisiana to intentionally setting fire to three Baptist churches because of the religious character of those buildings. Specifically, Matthews pleaded guilty to three counts of violating the Church Arson Prevention Act, 18 U.S.C. § 247(a)(1) — one count for each church — as well as one count of using fire to commit a federal felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(h). The fires, which Matthews set over a 10-day period in March and April of 2019, completely destroyed each of the church buildings.
At the plea hearing, Matthews admitted that, between March 26 and April 4, 2019, he intentionally set fire to three Baptist churches with predominantly African-American congregations in the Opelousas, Louisiana area. First, on March 26, 2019, Matthews set fire to St. Mary Baptist Church in Port Barre, Louisiana. Next, on April 2, 2019, Matthews set fire to the Greater Union Baptist Church, in Opelousas, Louisiana. Then, on April 4, 2019, Matthews set fire to the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas, Louisiana. The fires Matthews set destroyed each of the church buildings. Matthews admitted to setting the fires because of the religious character of these buildings, in an effort to raise his profile as a “Black Metal” musician by copying similar crimes committed in Norway in the 1990s. Matthews further admitted that, after setting the third fire, he posted photographs and videos on Facebook that showed the first two churches burning. Matthews admitted that he had taken these photographs and videos in real time on his cell phone, as he watched those churches burn, and that he had posted them to Facebook in an effort to promote himself in the Black Metal community.
“The Department of Justice will remain unwavering in its protection of the freedom to practice religion without the threat of discrimination or violence,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “Matthews admitted to setting fire to three churches because of their religious character. His disgraceful conduct violated the civil rights of the church’s parishioners and harmed their communities.”
“Today, the defendant has taken responsibility for the burning and destruction of three of our churches,” said U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph of the Western District of Louisiana. “The freedom to safely congregate and worship in our churches is a fundamental right of all Americans and will be vigorously protected by my office and our law enforcement partners. I want to thank the ATF, FBI, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Landry Parish Fire Department, Louisiana State Fire Marshal, Louisiana Attorney General’s Cybercrime Unit, Louisiana State Police, and the Florida State Fire Marshal for their hard work and seamless collaboration on this case.”
“Holden Matthews made a conscious decision to randomly target and destroy churches within his own community. His atrocious actions inflicted severe pain and grief upon these congregations, as well as all of St. Landry Parish,” said Special Agent in Charge Bryan Vorndran of the FBI’s New Orleans Field Office. “Throughout this investigation, the men and women of the FBI, ATF, Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Landry Parish District Attorney’s Office, Louisiana State Police, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry’s Cybercrime Unit, and the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office worked tirelessly to bring Holden Matthews to justice.”
“Protecting our communities is a vital part of our mission,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn. “ATF will continue to provide expertise and resources to investigate arson at houses of worship which threaten the well-being of our communities. I would like to thank all of our law enforcement partners for working tirelessly to ensure justice will be served.”
Matthews will be sentenced on May 22, 2020. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, and a statutory maximum sentence of 70 years in prison.
This case was investigated by the ATF’s National Response Team; the Lafayette Satellite Office of the ATF’s New Orleans Field Division; the Lafayette Resident Agency of the FBI’s New Orleans Field Office; the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal; the Louisiana State Police; the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation’s Cyber Crimes Unit; the St. Landry Parish Fire Department; and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana, and Trial Attorney Risa Berkower of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
For more information about the Department of Justice’s work to combat and prevent hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes: a one-stop portal with links to Department of Justice hate crimes resources for law enforcement, media, researchers, victims, advocacy groups, and other organizations and individuals.
Three-Time Convicted Shreveport Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Angelo Demario Young, 30, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty on February 3, 2020, before Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr., to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to documents filed with the court, on June 11, 2019, Angelo Young recorded a video of himself and posted it to social media showing him firing numerous rounds of ammunition from a Glock .357 pistol into a paper target at a shooting range in Shreveport. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Young’s three prior felony convictions in Caddo Parish for illegal possession of a stolen firearm (2009), possession with intent to distribute narcotics (2015), and possession of a firearm or carrying a concealed weapon by a convicted felon (2017), prohibited him from possessing firearms.
Angelo Young will be sentenced by Judge Hicks on June 10, 2020, and faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon H. Whitten is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov.
# # #
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Lake Charles Man Sentenced to Prison for Seven Years on Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Dexter Nash, 34, of Lake Charles, was sentenced February 6, 2020, by U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr., to 24 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and 60 months in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, to run consecutively. Judge Cain also sentenced Dexter Nash to three years of supervised release following his release from prison. Nash pled guilty to these charges on October 24, 2019.
According to information presented to the court, on May 4, 2017, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputies stopped Nash’s vehicle for a traffic violation and discovered that he was in possession of 35 grams of cocaine and $3,865 in cash. Officers secured a court approved search warrant of Nash’s residence and found an AK-47 rifle loaded with two 30 round magazines and a safe containing $2,461 in cash, a money counter, and an electronic hand mixer containing white powdery residue on the end. They also found a black backpack containing two digital scales, the key to the safe, a box of sandwich sized plastic bags, and several individually wrapped bags of powder cocaine totaling 192 grams.
Dexter Nash admitted to possessing between 200 and 300 grams of cocaine that he intended to distribute and that he intentionally possessed the AK-47 to use to advance his cocaine trafficking.
The FBI and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Vermaelen prosecuted the case.
# # #
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Bossier City Man Involved in Hit-and-Run Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Laterreon Daron Morrison, 23, of Bossier City, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on February 4, 2020, before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote, to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Morrison was involved in a hit-and-run accident at the intersection of Hearne Avenue and Hilry Huckaby Avenue in Shreveport on May 1, 2018. Officers responded to the area, fell in behind Morrison’s vehicle and activated the patrol car’s emergency lights and sirens. Morrison stopped in the middle of the lane, exited the vehicle, and attempted to flee on foot when officers tried to conduct a pat down. Morrison was apprehended by law enforcement shortly thereafter and was taken into custody. Officers recovered a Zastava 7.62X39mm caliber pistol from Morrison’s vehicle.
Morrison was a convicted felon at the time of this incident, having previously been convicted of aggravated battery in Bossier Parish in 2014. Felons are prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Laterreon Morrison will be sentenced by Judge Foote on June 12, 2020, and faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov.
# # #
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Port Barre Man Sentenced to over 20 Years for Federal Carjacking and Firearms Charge Related to Kidnapping IncidentRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Jon Michael Mauldwin, 28, was sentenced today to 241 months in prison and five years of supervised release for a federal carjacking and related firearms charge stemming from the kidnapping of a Port Barre man, announced David C. Joseph, United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana.
U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell sentenced Mauldwin to 121 months for the federal carjacking charge, which will run concurrent to pending state charges, and an additional, consecutive 10 years for using, carrying, or possessing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Mauldwin pled guilty to these charges in U.S. District Court in Alexandria on September 9, 2019.
The incident began in the early morning hours of August 20, 2017, at approximately 1:00 a.m., when Mauldwin crashed his vehicle at a residence in Port Barre. Mauldwin exited the vehicle, had a brief encounter with an individual at the residence, then re-entered his vehicle and drove down the road where he wrecked for the second time. After the second crash, he entered the home of a Port Barre man, brandishing a black handgun. Mauldwin forced the victim out of his home at gunpoint demanding that the victim use his own truck to drive him to a store. Along the way, Mauldwin told the victim he was going to die and fired the gun in front of the victim’s face causing the driver’s side window to shatter and causing hearing loss in the victim’s left ear. When they arrived at a convenience store, the victim managed to get away and get help. Mauldwin continued his crime spree in Point Coupee Parish where he was subsequently arrested.
The FBI, ATF the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, Point Coupee Sheriff’s Office and Livonia Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.
# # #
Couple from Honduras and El Salvador Indicted for Transporting Nine Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against Julio Francisco Lindo, 30, of Honduras, and Maria Yajaira Urias-Cordova, 26, of El Salvador, both illegally present in the United States, charging them with one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and nine counts of illegal alien transportation, announced David C. Joseph, United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana.
According to the indictment, on January 14, 2020, Border Patrol agents conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle traveling east on Interstate 10 in Lake Charles. Julio Lindo, the driver of the vehicle, and Maria Urias-Cordova, a passenger in the vehicle, were transporting nine individuals that they knew to be illegally present in the United States: five from Guatemala, three from Mexico, and one from El Salvador. Agents located five of the nine individuals piled on top of each other in the rear cargo area of the Honda Pilot, and four individuals in the back passenger seat, one of whom was an unaccompanied minor, lying on the floor face up underneath another’s feet.
If convicted, Julio Francisco Lindo and Maria Yajaira Urias-Cordova both face up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine, for each count.
U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
# # #
Alexandria Man Indicted for Extortion Scheme Involving ExplosivesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against Daniel Dewayne Aikens, 37, of Alexandria, charging him with one count of making a threat by telephone, announced David C. Joseph, United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana.
According to the indictment, on January 2, 2020, Aikens used a cell phone to contact an employee of PayDay Today and made a threatening demand for $10,000 in cash. He initially spoke to the employee about a set of lost keys. While the employee was in the parking lot looking for the keys, a device exploded in a trash can near the building. Aikens told the employee that he had caused the explosion and threatened another explosion if he was not given $10,000 in cash. Aikens was discharged from his position as a commissioned officer in the Louisiana National Guard shortly after his arrest in connection with this incident.
If convicted, Daniel Aikens faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), FBI, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, Alexandria Police Department, U.S. Marshal’s Service, Louisiana State Police, and the Alexandria Fire Department investigated the case, with the assistance of the Alexandria Public Safety Commissioner and the City of Alexandria Mayor’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
# # #
35 Years Imprisonment for Nine Defendants Guilty in Methamphetamine, Cocaine Distribution Ring in Calcasieu and Beauregard ParishesRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Nine defendants charged with various federal drug offenses linked to a large methamphetamine and cocaine distribution ring based in Calcasieu and Beauregard parishes have been sentenced to federal prison for their crimes, announced David C. Joseph, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana. U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter handed down sentences for nine defendants, with the final sentencings occurring on Monday, January 27, 2020, at the federal courthouse in Lake Charles.
On January 27, 2020:
Antonio Montero, 57, a Cuban national, of Lake Charles, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty on September 24, 2019, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Felix Perez, 56, a citizen of Cuba, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty on September 25, 2019, to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances (cocaine); and
Lionel Peschier, 49, of Sulphur, Louisiana, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty on September 24, 2019, to one count of attempted distribution of controlled substances (methamphetamine).
On December 16, 2019:
Julio Elizagarate, 68, a Cuban national, of Lake Charles, was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty on September 5, 2019, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Michael Miers, 57, of DeRidder, Louisiana, was sentenced to 40 months in prison after pleading guilty on February 13, 2019, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine;
Zetherneal Elizagarate, 57, of Lake Charles, was sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty on April 3, 2019, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Juan Gonzalez, 67, a Cuban national, of Leesville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 71 months in prison after pleading guilty on July 3, 2019, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine;
Gary S. Byrd, 48, was sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty on August 15, 2019, to one count of distribution of controlled substances (methamphetamine); and
Angie Perez, 49, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty on September 13, 2019, to one count of distribution of controlled substances (methamphetamine).
From June 2017 through May 2018, law enforcement agents used controlled purchases and court-authorized wire taps to investigate Antonio Montero and three other Cuban nationals who were dealing large amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine in southwest Louisiana. Law enforcement officers learned of multiple stash houses and identified Antonio Montero and Juan Gonzalez as suppliers of methamphetamine and Michael Miers as a supplier of multiple kilos of cocaine. Five search warrants were executed and agents seized multiple kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine.
When Miers was arrested at his residence on July 31, 2018, agents found $40,300 in cash proceeds from narcotics transactions, 5,343 grams of cocaine and 3,338 grams of methamphetamine. Miers admitted that he obtained the 3,338 grams of methamphetamine from Julio Elizagarate and Antonio Montero in trade for the same amount of cocaine.
Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, Louisiana State Police, Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, Combined Anti-Drug Task Force, Beauregard Sheriff’s Office, Lake Charles Police Department, Iowa Police Department, and DeRidder Police Department participated in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth is prosecuted the case.
# # #
Shreveport Man Sentenced to 10+ Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Jason Matthew Porterfield, 37, of Shreveport, was sentenced today, by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote, to serve 130 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Porterfield pleaded guilty on May 22, 2019.
During surveillance of an ongoing narcotics investigation at a Shreveport hotel on Interstate Drive, law enforcement officers encountered Porterfield on March 18, 2019, as he was exiting the hotel. Porterfield consented to a search of his hotel room where officers found approximately 112 grams of methamphetamine packaged in various quantities, packaging materials, digital scales, a drug ledger, and $3,831 in cash. Agents also found one gram of marijuana and 249 Xanax pills, along with other drug paraphernalia.
Porterfield admitted that he had been selling methamphetamine and Xanax for about six months. He told officers that he sells methamphetamine to about eight different people and Xanax to three or four different people.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick prosecuted the case.
# # #
Former VA Pharmacist Found Guilty of Stealing Controlled Drugs from Veterans' PrescriptionsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – A licensed pharmacist, who was formerly employed with the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Shreveport, was found guilty today by a federal jury for stealing controlled substances from mail-out prescriptions, announced United States Attorney David C. Joseph.
Following a one-week trial and four hours of deliberations, Melissa W. Richardson, 44, of Shreveport, was found guilty of 15 counts of acquiring a controlled substance by fraud.
According to evidence presented at trial, on June 9, 2017, Richardson, a licensed pharmacist employed at the VAMC, stole various quantities of Hydrocodone out of individual prescription bottles as she verified mail-out prescriptions meant for veterans. The prescriptions at issue had been prepared by a pharmacy technician and were awaiting a second count and verification from Richardson. Video surveillance from inside the VAMC controlled substances vault showed Richardson slipping the pills into her pocket as she counted the prescriptions. In multiple instances, she slipped pills into her pocket before the pills were counted. Video footage showed her then verify that the prescription was correct in the VAMC’s computer system, seal the bottle, place it in a sealed envelope, and drop it in a bin for mail-out. When federal agents confronted Richardson, she had 236 loose pills in her pocket.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan and Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison D. Bushnell are prosecuting the case.
# # #
Webster Parish Non-Profit Director Sentenced for Stealing More Than $1 Million from Federal Feeding ProgramRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – David C. Joseph, United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, announced that a Cotton Valley woman was sentenced for stealing more than $1 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Feeding Service Program, a federal feeding program meant to provide meals to economically disadvantaged children during the summer months when they are not in school.
Myrna Thomas Quarles, 59, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter to serve 71 months in federal prison. Judge Walter also sentenced Quarles, who pleaded guilty to theft of government property on September 18, 2019, to three years of supervised release following her confinement and ordered her to pay $1,460,541.41 in restitution.
Quarles was the director of Greater Horizons Developmental Services, a non-profit headquartered in Webster Parish. Greater Horizons received reimbursements from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Feeding Service Program, which was administered through the State of Louisiana. From 2014 through 2015, Greater Horizons submitted reimbursement claims that greatly inflated the number of eligible meals provided. Once Greater Horizons received the money, Quarles wrote checks that were payable to vendors and other third parties, but instead of sending those checks to the vendors, Quarles deposited that money into her personal bank account, which totaled over $1 million in theft from the federal feeding program. Additionally, Quarles used the Greater Horizons’ checking account to pay for personal expenses that she charged to a Greater Horizons credit card totaling $370,816.61. Purchases included real estate, farm equipment, a restaurant, air travel, cruises and designer luxury items.
“Quarles stole from a taxpayer-funded program meant to provide meals to children,” stated U.S. Attorney Joseph. “My office will continue to aggressively prosecute this and other types of fraud. Today’s sentence should send the clear message that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will bring justice to those who defraud the taxpayers and take advantage of the most vulnerable among us.”
“Make no mistake – this was bold and shameless thievery of nearly $1.5 million intended to feed hungry children,” stated Louisiana Inspector General Stephen Street. “Ms. Quarles showed an outrageous lack of concern for the taxpayers and the children those funds were supposed to benefit. Today’s sentence should send the message loud and clear that the party is over. If you steal from the public, you had better be prepared to go to jail. We will continue doing everything in our power to make sure of it. I want to thank United States Attorney David C. Joseph and his staff for their usual outstanding work, as well as our partners at the FBI.”
The FBI, and State of Louisiana, Office of State Inspector General, conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook prosecuted the case.
# # #
Bossier City Oil and Gas Company and Owner Indicted for Harboring Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – A Bossier City oil and gas company owner made his initial appearance today, January 15, 2020, on behalf of himself and his company, after being charged in an 18-count indictment for allegedly harboring aliens, announced David C. Joseph, United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana.
Tim Icenhower, 57, of Marshall, Texas, and Icenhower Oil and Gas, Inc., a pipeline and oilfield construction company located in Bossier City, Louisiana, were indicted by a federal grand jury on December 11, 2019, on 18 counts of harboring aliens. Icenhower appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Mark L. Hornsby where he was advised of his rights and the charges pending against him and his company.
The government did not move to detain the defendant and Icenhower was released on bond. Magistrate Judge Hornsby has scheduled a status conference for March 16, 2020, to set a timeline for discovery matters and a trial date.
According to allegations contained in the indictment, between January 2017 and continuing to the present, Icenhower Oil and Gas, Inc., and Tim Icenhower knowingly employed illegal aliens and, in doing so, encouraged them to reside in the United States, aware that such residence was in violation of the law.
If convicted, Tim Icenhower faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count, and three years of supervised release; Icenhower Oil and Gas, Inc. faces a $500,000 fine for each count.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
# # #
Federal Complaint Charges Alexandria Man with Extortion in Relation to the Detonation of Suspected Explosive DeviceRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – A criminal complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Alexandria charging Daniel Dewayne Aikens, 37, of Alexandria, for an extortion scheme involving threats and the detonation of two pipe bombs, announced David C. Joseph, United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana.
Aikens was arrested after a traffic stop on January 6, 2020, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph H.L. Perez-Montes on January 7, 2020, where he was advised of the charge contained in the complaint, arraigned on the charge, and detained. Aikens continues to remain in federal custody pending the outcome of his detention hearing on January 17, 2020.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Aikens contacted an employee of PayDay Today demanding $10,000 in cash. He initially spoke to the employee about a set of lost keys. While the employee was in the parking lot looking for the keys, a device exploded in a trash can near the building. The affidavit states Aikens told the employee that he caused the explosion and demanded $10,000 in cash. Aikens was discharged from his position as a commissioned officer in the Louisiana National Guard shortly after his arrest in connection with this incident.
“The defendant is charged with trying to extort money from his victims by using an explosive device,” stated United States Attorney Joseph. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners take the unlawful use of explosive devices very seriously due to the terrible damage they can inflict. I want to thank the FBI, ATF, and U.S. Marshal’s Service, as well as our state and local partners, for their immediate response to the scene as well as their seamless coordination to secure the safety of the citizens of Alexandria.”
If convicted on the extortion charge, Aikens faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), FBI, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, Alexandria Police Department, U.S. Marshal’s Service, Louisiana State Police, and the Alexandria Fire Department investigated the case, with the assistance of the Alexandria Public Safety Commissioner and the City of Alexandria Mayor’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog is prosecuting the case.
This matter will proceed in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, where the Criminal Complaint is currently pending. A Criminal Complaint is a temporary charge alleging a violation of law. For the case to proceed to trial, the United States must present the charge to a federal Grand Jury within 30 days. Once a Grand Jury returns an Indictment, a defendant has a right to a jury trial at which the United States would have the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
# # #
Port Barre Man is Sentenced to 21+ Years for Transporting a Minor Out of State for SexRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Cory Shane Disotell, 48, of Port Barre, Louisiana, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert R. Summerhays to serve 262 months in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Disotell is required to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison. As a result of Disotell’s guilty plea on October 11, 2019, Judge Summerhays also ordered forfeiture of the Braztech S41118 .410 caliber shogun which was seized from Disotell at the time of his arrest in Durango, Colorado.
Disotell devised a plan to coerce a 15-year old Port Barre minor to leave school and run away with him. On March 28, 2019, the defendant traveled to the school where the minor was a student and convinced the child to leave with him. He then transported her to Mississippi, and thereafter to Durango, Colorado, where he was apprehended after an extensive nationwide manhunt. At the time of his arrest, the defendant admitted he took the child from Port Barre, Louisiana, to Mississippi, and ultimately to Durango, Colorado, engaging in sexual acts along the way.
The FBI, U.S. Marshal’s Service, Port Barre Police Department, Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office, and Durango, Colorado Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker and Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Myers P. Namie prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
# # #
Jonesville Man Sentenced to 97 Months in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Distribution and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that David White Jr., 49, of Jonesville, Louisiana, was sentenced January 7, 2020, by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell, to serve 97 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to information presented to the court, on February 5, 2019, David White Jr. sold approximately one ounce of methamphetamine to an undercover agent for $450.00. During the drug transaction, White pulled a North American Arms .22 Magnum revolver from his pocket and told the undercover agent that this was the weapon he carried.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), FBI, and the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy prosecuted the case.
# # #
Two Jennings Men Face Federal Prison Time for Methamphetamine and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Eric Lawaun Alexander Sentenced to Six-and-a-Half Years on Methamphetamine and Firearm Charges
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana David C. Joseph, announced that Eric Lawaun Alexander, 38, of Jennings, Louisiana, was sentenced December 17, 2019, by U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr., to six-and-a-half years in prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Judge Cain also sentenced Alexander to a three-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison. Alexander pleaded guilty to these charges on September 10, 2019.
According to information presented to the court, on December 2, 2018, a Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputy stopped Eric Alexander’s vehicle for a traffic violation. During the stop, Alexander attempted to flee from law enforcement, but was apprehended and consented to a search of his vehicle. Officers found a loaded Glock 21 underneath the driver’s seat and 26.29 grams of methamphetamine in the center console.
Alexander has prior felony convictions in the 31st Judicial District Court in Jennings for possession of Alprazolam, distribution of crack cocaine, and possession of cocaine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Ronnie E. Prudhomme Sentenced to 13+ Years for Federal Drug Charges
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana David C. Joseph announced that Ronnie E. Prudhomme, 30, of Jennings, Louisiana, was sentenced December 19, 2019, by U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr., to 160 months (13 years, 4 months) in prison followed by four years of supervised release for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Prudhomme pleaded guilty on September 10, 2019.
According to information presented to the court, on January 28, 2019, a Louisiana State Police trooper initiated a traffic stop on Ronnie Prudhomme’s vehicle after observing a traffic violation on I-10. After the traffic stop was initiated, the defendant attempted to flee, which led to a vehicular pursuit and eventual arrest of Prudhomme. During the pursuit, the trooper observed Prudhomme dumping large amounts of a substance out of plastic bags onto the highway. When Prudhomme reached an intersection, he brought his vehicle to a stop after seeing State Police troopers and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office units positioned along the roadway. During a search of the vehicle, officers found 176.2 grams of pure methamphetamine, 176 grams of Alprazolam, and $110,981 in U.S. currency. Prudhomme was in possession of $3,021 in his pockets, $8,000 inside a leather zipper bag under the driver’s seat, and $99,960 in a leather bag on the rear seat behind the driver’s seat.
Homeland Security Investigations, Louisiana State Police and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.
# # #
Former Non-Profit Organization President Lynn D. Cawthorne Facing New Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a federal grand jury indicted Lynn D. Cawthorne, 52, of Shreveport, on December 18, 2019, charging him with aiding and assisting in making and subscribing a false return.
The indictment includes two counts involving false returns for the tax years 2013 and 2014. The defendant willfully withheld information from his accountant when he reported an adjusted gross income of $7,555 for calendar year 2013 and an adjusted gross income of $9,529 for calendar year 2014. Cawthorne knew the information he presented to his accountant was false, which prevented his accountant from accurately reporting income for the years 2013 and 2014.
In April 2018, Cawthorne and his sister were indicted for stealing more than $536,000 from a program meant to supply meals to children during the summer. On April 26, 2018, a grand jury returned an eight-count indictment charging them with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and seven counts of wire fraud. On February 28, 2019, additional charges were brought in a superseding indictment adding 18 counts of money laundering-related charges.
Cawthorne and his sister operated United Citizens and Neighborhoods (UCAN), as president and director, respectively. UCAN was a non-profit corporation that participated in the Summer Feeding Service Program (SFSP), which is administered by the Louisiana Department of Education Division of Nutrition Support. The SFSP was established to ensure that children in low-income areas continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session during the summer.
Cawthorne is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Hornsby on January 8, 2020, to be arraigned for the tax charges. If convicted Cawthorne faces up to three years in prison, a $100,000 fine, and one year of supervised release for each count.
Special agents with the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
# # #
Shreveport Man Indicted for Homicide of U.S. Postal Service Employee and Federal Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a federal grand jury in Shreveport returned a three-count indictment on December 18, 2019, charging Michael Jarred Gentry, 32, of Shreveport, with second degree murder, felon in possession of a firearm, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, resulting in death. Local authorities arrested Gentry on June 22, 2019, in connection with the death of Antonio Williams, a U.S. Postal Service Letter Carrier. Gentry has been in custody since his arrest.
According to the indictment, Gentry shot and killed Antonio Williams on the morning of June 22, 2019, while Mr. Williams was working his mail delivery route on Dudley Drive in Shreveport. The indictment further charges that Gentry was a felon at the time he possessed the Romarm/Cugir WASR-10 and ammunition used in furtherance of the second degree murder charge. Gentry is a convicted felon and under federal law, it is illegal for him to possess a firearm or ammunition.
Michael Gentry is scheduled to be arraigned on January 9, 2020, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Hornsby. If convicted, Michael Jarred Gentry faces up to life in prison for the second degree murder charge, 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and 10 years in prison for discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Shreveport Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown are prosecuting the case. The Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office also has pending homicide charges against Gentry and is working collaboratively with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the prosecution of this matter.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
# # #
Six Defendants Receive Federal Prison Sentences This Week for Drug Distribution and Federal Firearms Offenses; Two Plead Guilty for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced six defendants from Shreveport and the surrounding area were sentenced this week and two Monroe residents pleaded guilty for drug distribution and federal firearms offenses. The firearms cases were brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Three Men Sentenced in Methamphetamine-Trafficking Conspiracy
SHREVEPORT, La. – David C. Joseph, United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana announced that three men responsible for trafficking methamphetamine in the Caddo Parish area have been sentenced to serve time in federal prison.
George Alan Highsmith, 48, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty on July 23, 2019, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Jeffrey Scott Holder, 52, of Stonewall, Louisiana, and David Tilden Byrd, 45, of Doyline, Louisiana, admitted their guilt on July 2, 2019 and July 22, 2019, respectively. Both men acknowledged their roles in the conspiracy with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Today, Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. sentenced Highsmith to serve 11 years in prison, to be followed by a five-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison. On December 9, 2019, Judge Hicks ordered Holder to serve 115 months (9 years, 7 months) in prison, and on December 10, 2019, sentenced Byrd to five years in prison. Both received five years of supervised release.
The sentencings were the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) after learning that Byrd, Highsmith and Holder were distributors of methamphetamine in the Caddo Parish area. Holder was supplied by Highsmith; Byrd and Highsmith often collaborated to distribute the meth. On November 6, 2018, the DEA and Louisiana State Police organized a controlled telephone call between Byrd and Highsmith, during which Highsmith agreed to purchase seven ounces of methamphetamine from Byrd at the Horseshoe Casino Hotel parking garage. When Highsmith arrived to meet Byrd, he was taken into custody.
After Highsmith’s arrest, he consented to a search of his hotel room where agents found 29.8 grams of pure methamphetamine, a drug scale, a Sig Saur 9mm semi-automatic handgun with one round of ammunition in the chamber and 12 additional rounds in the magazine, an additional 9mm magazine containing 10 rounds of ammunition found inside an open safe located in the hotel room closet, and $1,970 in drug proceed money. Highsmith admitted that the 29.8 grams of meth was what remained of five ounces of meth he received from Byrd on November 5, 2018. The investigation revealed that Highsmith and Byrd’s source of supply was an individual in the Dallas, Texas, area.
On November 6, 2018, Louisiana State Police initiated a stop on Byrd’s vehicle for a traffic violation. Byrd consented to a search of his vehicle and troopers found approximately 475 grams of pure methamphetamine, syringes, two metal bowls, and a drug scale hidden above the rear fender of the pickup truck. Byrd admitted to purchasing one kilogram of methamphetamine from his north Texas supplier on November 5, 2018 for $7,600 and that he had purchased approximately three kilograms of methamphetamine from the same supplier from August 2018 until his arrest.
Holder was arrested on October 23, 2018, by a DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop of his vehicle that produced 122.69 grams of pure methamphetamine found in a black bag on the back floorboard.
The DEA, Louisiana State Police, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Shreveport Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown prosecuted the case.
Two Shreveport Felons Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearms
SHREVEPORT, La. – Lequinton Jerry, 25, and Omar Williams, 28, both of Shreveport, were sentenced on December 12, 2019, for illegal possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney David C. Joseph.
According to information presented to the court, on June 7, 2018, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s deputies stopped Omar Williams’ vehicle for a traffic violation. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a Pioneer Arms, Model PPS43C, 9x19-caliber pistol in the trunk of the car and a Glock, Model 23, .40-caliber pistol underneath the front passenger seat. Williams told officers, “I know I am a convicted felon and not supposed to be in possession of a firearm,” and “I own the gun that was found in the trunk. I don’t own the other gun they found in the car.” The other gun was owned by Lequinton Jerry, the sole passenger sitting in the front seat, who was also in possession of matching .40-caliber ammunition inside his pants pocket.
At sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. ordered Lequinton Jerry to 21 months in prison, and Omar Williams to 51 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for each. Both defendants pleaded guilty to these charges on August 26, 2019.
It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess firearms or ammunition. Omar Williams previously pleaded guilty on June 16, 2014, to attempted illegal possession of weapons while in possession of controlled dangerous substances. Lequinton Jerry previously pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled dangerous substance (Alprazolam) on September 28, 2016.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cadesby B. Cooper prosecuted the case.
Shreveport Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution, Federal Firearms Offense
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Roger W. Shepard, 32, of Shreveport, was sentenced December 10, 2019, by Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr., to two years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and five years in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, to run consecutively. Judge Hicks also sentenced Roger Shepard to three years of court supervision after he is released from federal prison. Shepard pleaded guilty to these charges on July 31, 2019.
According to information presented to the court, on November 19, 2018, a Shreveport police officer responded to a complaint at the Sportran/Greyhound bus terminal. When the officer arrived, he saw Shepard in an argument with another individual and discovered that he was in possession of a Hi-Point .40-caliber pistol tucked into his waistband, a loaded magazine in his front pocket, and 43 individually wrapped packages of cocaine, totaling approximately 10 grams, which he intended to deliver to a third party.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case.
Two Monroe Felons Plead Guilty to Federal Firearms Charge
Nanderrious Thomas
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Nanderrious Thomas, 22, of Monroe, pleaded guilty today, before U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty to felon in possession of a firearm.
According to documents filed with the court, Monroe Police Department officers were conducting an active warrant canvas on November 16, 2018, when they spotted Nanderrious Thomas, who had outstanding felony warrants. Thomas fled when he saw the officers and crawled under an abandoned house. Immediately after he was apprehended, a detective recovered a loaded Smith & Wesson, Model SD.40 VE, semi-automatic handgun from underneath the house, and 14 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition - one round in the chamber and 13 rounds in the magazine.
Thomas has a prior felony conviction in Ouachita Parish for aggravated battery. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of a firearm or ammunition.
Nanderrious Thomas will be sentenced by Judge Doughty on April 1, 2020, and faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshal’s Service, and Monroe Police Department conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle A. Thompson is prosecuting the case.
Rodriguez Dewayne Cobbs
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Rodriguez Dewayne Cobbs, 27, of Monroe, pleaded guilty today, before U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty to felon in possession of a firearm.
According to documents filed with the court, on January 21, 2019, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrested Cobbs following a traffic stop of his vehicle. During the course of the traffic stop, Cobbs informed the officer that he had a gun in his right front jacket pocket. Officers retrieved a Smith & Wesson, Model SD.40 VE, semi-automatic handgun loaded with one round in the chamber and 13 rounds in the magazine, and a Glock .9mm magazine lying on the front passenger seat, loaded with two rounds.
Cobbs has prior felony convictions in Ouachita and Caddo Parishes for attempted possession of codeine, simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess firearms or ammunition.
Rodriguez Cobbs will be sentenced by Judge Doughty on April 1, 2020, and faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s office conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle A. Thompson is prosecuting the case.
# # #
Man Who Was Arrested in Connection with the Murder of Shreveport Police Officer Chateri' Payne Sentenced to 12+ Years in Federal Prison for Firearms and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Glenn Frierson, 39, of Shreveport, was sentenced this morning by Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr., to 151 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Local authorities arrested Frierson on January 15, 2019, in connection with the death of Shreveport Police Officer Chateri’ Payne.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, Frierson’s federal charges are the result of an investigation by the Shreveport Police Department after learning that narcotic transactions were occurring at Frierson’s place of business. After several controlled buys were made with undercover law enforcement, officers with the Shreveport Police Department executed a state search warrant at his place of business on May 3, 2018. As officers entered the business, Frierson placed a Smith & Wesson, Model SD40, .40-caliber pistol, loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition, on the floor of the bathroom next to his barber stall. Further investigation revealed that Frierson owned the pistol and carried it for protection when selling illegal drugs. During the search warrant, officers discovered 28 grams of methamphetamine inside his backpack and inside a false beverage container, along with a scale to weigh drugs. Frierson pleaded guilty to the federal charges on August 16, 2019.
“This case demonstrates the dangers presented by armed drug dealers in Shreveport and throughout the Western District of Louisiana,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph. “We will continue to make every effort at the federal level to eliminate this senseless violence and support our men and women in law enforcement.”
Glenn Frierson was a convicted felon at the time he possessed the pistol. He pleaded guilty on May 4, 2009, to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess firearms or ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Shreveport Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cadesby B. Cooper and Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison D. Bushnell prosecuted the case.
# # #
Justice Department Announces More Than $376 Million in Awards to Promote Public SafetyRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/ALEXANDRIA/LAKE CHARLES/MONROE - United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana David C. Joseph announced that the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs has awarded more than $376 million in grant funding to enhance state, local and tribal law enforcement operations and reinforce public safety efforts in jurisdictions across the United States. The awards include $1,024,834 million to support public safety activities in the Western District of Louisiana.
“These public safety grants will give our local, state, and community partners additional resources to assist them in the fight against violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph. “I want to thank the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Program, for making these grants available to organizations within the Western District of Louisiana. Working together with our law enforcement and community partners, we are making Louisiana safer for its citizens.”
“Crime and violence hold families, friends and neighborhoods hostage, and they rip communities apart,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These programs help restore the health and safety of crime-ravaged communities by supporting prevention activities, aiding in the apprehension and prosecution of perpetrators, facilitating appropriate sentencing and adjudication, and providing communities and their residents the means for recovery and healing.”
The awards announced support an array of crime-fighting initiatives, including the quarter-billion dollar Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grants Program, which funds public safety efforts in 929 state, local and tribal jurisdictions. Funding also supports sex offender registration and notification, law enforcement-based victim services, the testing of sexual assault kits, and programs designed to address youth with sexual behavioral problems. Other awards will focus on wrongful convictions, intellectual property enforcement, innovative prosecution strategies and the safety and effectiveness of corrections systems.
The following awards were made to organizations in the Western District of Louisiana:
BJA Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program – Local Awards
- City of Shreveport - $127,686
- City of Bossier City – $39,115
- City of Lake Charles - $44,309
- City of Opelousas - $17,834
- City of Natchitoches - $15,632
- Ouachita Parish - $127,351
- Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office - $72,222
- Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office - $82,155
- Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office - $36,553
- St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office - $13,477
OVC Law Enforcement-Based Victim Specialist Program
- Lafayette City Parish Consolidated Government - $448,500
BJA Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program – State Awards
- Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement - $3,169,999
Information about the programs and awards announced December 4, 2019, is available here: Public Safety Fact Sheet. For more information about OJP awards, visit the OJP Awards Data webpage.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Louisiana, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
# # #
Jonesville Man Sentenced to 70 Months on Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – David C. Joseph, United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, announced that Glen Arrington, 27, of Jonesville, Louisiana, was sentenced on December 2, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell, to 70 months in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Arrington pleaded guilty to this charge on August 21, 2019.
On March 6, 2019, an investigator with the United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted a suspicious priority mail express package that contained approximately one pound of pure methamphetamine. A delivery of the package was successfully executed at the residence of Glen Arrington, where Arrington signed for and brought the package into his home. Immediately following the delivery of the package, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant and recovered the methamphetamine. Arrington admitted that the methamphetamine found in the package belonged to him and stated that he knew the package contained methamphetamine prior to receiving it. He intended to sell the methamphetamine for money.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cadesby B. Cooper prosecuted the case.
# # #
Five Felons Appeared in Court This Week in Connection with Federal Gun Crime OffensesRead the Press Release
Seven-Time Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Nacorvrick S. Green, 40, of Lafayette, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on December 2, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
On June 13, 2018, Lafayette Police Department officers conducted a stop on Green’s vehicle for a traffic violation and found a Ruger .380 semi-automatic pistol and six rounds of ammunition. Green has seven prior felony convictions in the 15th Judicial District Court, Lafayette Parish, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine (2001 and 2008), three counts of distribution of cocaine (2001), attempted possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance - Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabional (2008), and possession of marijuana, second offense (2013).
At sentencing Nacorvrick Green faces up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Judge Drell set the sentencing date for March 19, 2020.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Lafayette Police Department and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Vermaelen and Jamilla A. Bynog are prosecuting the case.
Two Bunkie Men Sentenced for Trafficking Heroin; One Defendant Receives Additional Prison Time for Firearms Violation
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Joel Shaun Michael Gaines, 32, of Bunkie, Louisiana, was sentenced December 2, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell, to 12 years, 7 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute heroin and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Gaines pleaded guilty on August 8, 2019.
In January of 2018, various law enforcement agencies participated in an investigation into heroin distribution in Central Louisiana, which identified Gaines as a source of heroin who distributed the drug to members of his drug trafficking organization. Gaines distributed heroin to multiple people in Central Louisiana from various locations utilizing stash houses and members of his organization to distribute heroin on his behalf. In May and July of 2018, law enforcement conducted three controlled purchases from Gaines and later intercepted communications that showed Gaines was distributing heroin and directing Roosevelt Dewayne Larcarte, 19, also of Bunkie, to distribute heroin for him. For each transaction, Larcarte received instructions from Gaines as to how much heroin a customer wanted to purchase. Based on information obtained through the intercepted communications, agents executed court-authorized search warrants at three locations and found multiple firearms, ammunition, heroin, a digital scale, and $6,123 in U.S. currency. Both Gaines and Larcarte are responsible for approximately 40 grams of heroin.
On September 17, 2018, law enforcement stopped Gaines’ vehicle for a traffic violation and discovered he was in possession of a Ruger .380 pistol with a magazine containing five bullets. Gaines was previously convicted in February of 2012 for possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance.
Roosevelt Larcarte pleaded guilty on August 22, 2019, to conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute heroin. He was sentenced on November 22, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell, to two years in prison and three years of supervised release following his prison confinement.
The FBI Safe Streets Task Force and Louisiana State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth prosecuted the case.
Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearms During the Filming of a Rap Video
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Xavier Briggs, 27, of Shreveport, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on December 3, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter to felon in possession of firearms.
On April 25, 2019, officers with the Shreveport Police Department responded to AB Palmer Park in Shreveport where a large crowd was filming a rap video with numerous firearms. Officers encountered 10 individuals standing around a Chevrolet Malibu and recovered multiple firearms from the scene. A camera being used to shoot the video was also seized and a search warrant was obtained to view its contents. Briggs can be seen in the video recordings in possession of a Jiminez Arms Model JA Nine 9mm pistol loaded with 4 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and a loaded DPMS Model A15, 5.56 mm rifle containing two 30-round magazines, and 41 rounds of 5.56 ammo.
Briggs has a 2011 armed robbery felony conviction in Caddo District Court and was released from prison in December 2018.
At sentencing Xavier Briggs faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Judge Walter set the sentencing date for March 24, 2020.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown is prosecuting the case.
Monroe Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Stanley Charleston, 55, of Monroe, was sentenced December 3, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. Charleston pleaded guilty to this charge on September 4, 2019.
According to court documents, on August 17, 2017, officers of the Monroe Police Department executed a court-authorized search warrant at Charleston’s home and found a Ruger, Model SR9, 9 mm pistol. The pistol was loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition. Charleston is a convicted felon who pleaded guilty on December 8, 2005 to unauthorized entry into an inhabited dwelling.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Monroe Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cadesby B. Cooper is prosecuted the case.
It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess firearms or ammunition.
These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
# # #
Owner of a Shreveport Medical Laboratory Service Admits Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Robert C. Poimboeuf, a Shreveport business owner, pleaded guilty today in federal court, to filing false tax returns, announced David C. Joseph, the United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
According to documents and information provided to the court, Robert C. Poimboeuf, 57, along with his wife, owned and operated D&G Holdings, LLC, (D&G) a local medical business operating as Doctors Lab, that provided laboratory and phlebotomy services. From 2011 through 2015, Poimboeuf filed false tax returns that underreported gross receipts earned from D&G. In particular, Poimboeuf provided false and misleading information to his tax return preparers – hiding income, failing to disclose bank accounts and falsely characterizing business receipts as non-taxable loans.
D&G maintained an operating account and two accounts that received revenue – one for electronic payments and the other for physical deposits of checks. For 2011 through 2014, Poimboeuf concealed the nature of deposits into D&G’s operating bank account by falsely reporting to his accountant that the deposits were transfers from a billing service. Although D&G used a billing service, these deposits were not transfers from the billing service, but from D&G’s revenue accounts that Poimboeuf did not disclose to his accountant.
The Poimboeufs hired a different accountant to prepare their 2015 tax return and provided information for the electronic deposit account in addition to the operating account, but continued to withhold information about the physical deposits account. When the accountant asked for additional information concerning a loan, Poimboeuf provided a document to support the deposit for the loan, when in fact it was actually a transfer from the undisclosed physical deposits account. In addition, Poimboeuf did not provide numerous Forms 1099 reflecting earnings for D&G.
Poimboeuf underreported earnings for D&G in order to understate taxes due for 2011 through 2015. As a result of Poimboeuf’s conduct, the filing of false federal income tax returns for the years 2011 through 2015 caused a tax loss of more than $1.9 million to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
“Mr. Poimboeuf cheated on his taxes in order to lower his tax bill. In doing so, he committed a crime and failed in a duty we all owe as American citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph. “He now awaits sentencing for this crime.”
Sentencing is set for April 21, 2020, at 2:00 p.m., before Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. in Shreveport, Louisiana. Mr. Poimboeuf faces a statutory maximum sentence of six years in prison, as well as a period of supervised release and monetary penalties. Mr. Poimboeuf has agreed to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $1,904,477.
Special agents with the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook and Trial Attorney Kevin Schneider of the Tax Division, are prosecuting the case.
# # #
Owner of Medical Laboratory Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A Shreveport, Louisiana, business owner pleaded guilty today to filing false tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph of the Western District of Louisiana.
According to documents and information provided to the court, Robert C. Poimboeuf, 57, was a part owner of D&G Holdings, LLC, a medical laboratory in the Shreveport area. From 2011 through 2015, Poimboeuf filed false tax returns that underreported gross receipts earned from his business. In particular, Poimboeuf provided false information to his tax return preparers and concealed income from them by failing to disclose several bank accounts and falsely characterizing business receipts as non-taxable loans. Poimboeuf’s conduct caused a tax loss of more than $1.9 million to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
U.S. District Judge Maurice Hicks, Jr., scheduled sentencing for April 21, 2020. Mr. Poimboeuf faces a statutory maximum sentence of six years in prison, as well as a period of supervised release and monetary penalties. Mr. Poimboeuf has agreed to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $1,904,477.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Joseph thanked special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Van Hook and Trial Attorney Kevin Schneider of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.
Lafayette Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Child Pornography on Social Media Site and Personal DevicesRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Gregory Graffeo Jr., 25, of Lafayette, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert R. Summerhays, to 63 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession of child pornography. Hall pleaded guilty on August 13, 2019.
According to court documents, this case originated on August 31, 2018, as a cyber-tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI), reporting that a Tumblr user had uploaded images of child pornography. A search warrant on Graffeo’s Tumblr account revealed approximately 50 images of child pornography. On November 7, 2018, agents with Homeland Security Investigations and LBI executed a search warrant at Graffeo’s residence and found additional child pornography images on devices belonging to him. Graffeo admitted to possessing more than 100 images of child pornography on these devices and admitted that the Tumblr account belonged exclusively to him.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Louisiana Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) also encourage the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) 347-2423. Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls. Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online by visiting their website at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp or through the Operation Predator smartphone application www.ice.gov/predator/smartphone-app. Tips may be submitted anonymously.
# # #
Four Felons Appeared in Court This Week in Connection with Federal Gun Crime OffensesRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, LAKE CHARLES, MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced the resolution of several cases this week, all of which are separately noted, that were brought pursuant to the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Project Safe Neighborhoods is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Lake Charles Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a Stolen Firearm
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Jeremy Rankins, 28, of Lake Charles, was sentenced November 19, 2019, by U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr., to 80 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a stolen firearm. Rankins pleaded guilty on August 15, 2019.
According to court documents, on May 19, 2018, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a complaint of an attempted armed robbery with a firearm and an attempted carjacking at a Lake Charles casino. Upon arrival, officers came in contact with Rankins, who had already been detained by the casino’s security officers. Deputies also spoke with the 61-year-old victim, who stated that she was in her car at around 4 a.m. when Rankins sat in the passenger seat brandishing a firearm and demanding money. She denied having any money, at which point he demanded the keys to her car. The hotel security later detained Rankins, and while he was being questioned, a witness discovered the loaded 9 mm Ruger handgun he used on the ground under a truck tire. The investigation revealed that the handgun was stolen on May 17, 2018, from a vehicle parked in the casino’s parking garage.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation, with assistance from the casino security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen prosecuted the case.
Lake Charles Man Sent to Prison for Lying on Federal Firearms Form
Defendant lied about his criminal background when he tried to purchase a firearm at a Pawn Shop
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Darrien Lamont Rogers, 24, of Lake Charles, was sentenced on November 19, 2019, by U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr., to six months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for lying on a firearm application at a Lake Charles pawn shop. Rogers pleaded guilty on August 15, 2019.
On March 4, 2019, Rogers attempted to purchase a Taurus, Model PT 111, 9 mm semi-automatic pistol at a pawn shop in Lake Charles. He lied on an ATF Form 4473 by indicating that he had no felony convictions. Rogers pleaded guilty to one count of simple burglary on September 27, 2018, in the 14th Judicial District Court in Calcasieu Parish. Because of this felony conviction, Rogers is prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm or ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen is prosecuted the case.
Shreveport Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a Firearm
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Christopher John Williams, 30, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter on November 19, 2019, to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
On January 31, 2019, Williams was arrested on a state offense and held in custody at Caddo Correctional Center. While he was in custody, he called two friends and asked them to get rid of a firearm that was located at his residence. Following the calls, agents made contact with an individual Williams shared his residence with and secured a Springfield XDS .45 caliber pistol. At the guilty plea, Williams admitted that the pistol belonged to him and to being a convicted felon. As a convicted felon, he knew it was illegal for him to possess a firearm or ammunition.
Williams has prior felony convictions in Caddo Parish for illegal use of a weapon (2007), second degree battery (2009), accessory after the fact – robbery (2014), domestic abuse battery (2015), and public intimidation (2017).
Christopher Williams will be sentenced by Judge Walter on March 24, 2020, and faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI Northwest Louisiana Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath is prosecuting the case.
Multiple-Time Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Seven Firearms That He Stole From Simmons’ Sporting Goods in Bastrop
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Brandon Keith Harris, 32, of Bastrop, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty on November 20, 2019, to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
On the evening of July 14, 2018, Harris broke into Simmons’ Sporting Goods in Bastrop, Louisiana and stole seven guns. Federal law prohibits Harris from ever possessing a firearm because of his status as a convicted felon. He had previously been convicted of multiple felonies in Morehouse Parish including: the manufacture and possession of a bomb (2005), possession of methamphetamine (2009), simple burglary, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2014). This case is a joint federal and local investigation into the July 14, 2018 break-in and firearm theft.
Harris returns to court on March 4, 2020, where he will be sentenced by Judge Doughty, and faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Bastrop Police Department, and Morehouse Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon is prosecuting the case.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of a firearm or ammunition.
# # #
Former Pollock Inmate Sentenced for Attack on Prison Staff MemberRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. - A former Pollock inmate was sentenced today to seven years in federal prison for attacking a Pollock staff member, said U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph.
Brandon L. Jones, 38, who is in federal custody, pleaded guilty on August 20, 2019, to one count of assaulting a federal officer. In his plea, he admitted he attacked a staff member in the kitchen area at U.S. Penitentiary Pollock, slammed her to the table and threw her to the floor. Correctional officers responded to the scene and took Jones into custody. The staff member suffered multiple injuries, and underwent surgery to repair a ruptured ligament in her thumb. Jones is currently serving a 188-month federal prison sentence for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
The FBI and U.S. Bureau of Prisons investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy prosecuted the case.
# # #
Former Fort Polk Soldier Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Brandon Hall, 23, a former Fort Polk Soldier from Yakima, Washington, was sentenced on November 19, 2019, by U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr., to 15 years in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release, for production of child pornography. Hall pleaded guilty on April 18, 2019.
According to court documents, from November 30, 2017, to December 26, 2017, Hall had an online sexual relationship with a 14-year-old minor female living in Missouri. During their time communicating online via web camera, the defendant solicited and captured sexually explicit video of the minor.
The FBI and U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) also encourage the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) 347-2423. Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls. Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online by visiting their website at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp or through the Operation Predator smartphone application www.ice.gov/predator/smartphone-app. Tips may be submitted anonymously.
# # #
Youngsville Man Indicted in Million Dollar Investment Fraud and Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that Donnie Laing Jr., 39, of Youngsville, Louisiana, has been charged by federal indictment with nine counts of wire fraud stemming from his involvement in a million dollar Ponzi scheme which was orchestrated through his limited liability company, Capital Energy Investments (“Capital”).
According to the indictment, Laing was the sole owner of Capital, which was formed in February 2017. From April 16, 2018 through November 1, 2018, Laing orchestrated a Ponzi scheme whereby he and a well-known associate in northeast Louisiana, solicited money from multiple investors by falsely promising them high rates of return when they invested with his company, Capital. Laing represented that Capital would use the money to invest in oil and gas equipment, and then lease such equipment to companies engaged in oil and gas exploration activities. Throughout the scheme, Laing submitted false proposals and contracts to the Ponzi investors to persuade them to invest their money with Capital. He also used funds from new investors to make “lulling” payments to his victims to solicit additional monies and to avoid detection. Contrary to his representations, Laing used investor funds for his own purposes.
Laing faces up to 20 years in prison for each count of the indictment, restitution to the victims, and a fine up to $250,000 fine.
The FBI is investigating the case. United States Attorney David C. Joseph is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
# # #
Former Lake Charles Police Officer Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Civil Rights ViolationRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – A former Lake Charles Police Department officer was sentenced today in federal court for using unreasonable excessive force during an arrest, announced David C. Joseph, United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, and FBI’s New Orleans Field Office Special Agent in Charge Bryan A. Vorndran.
Robert Hammac, 44, of Lucedale, Mississippi, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr. to 18 months in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release. Hammac pleaded guilty on August 15, 2019 to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.
According to court documents, Hammac was involved in a vehicle pursuit on May 8, 2017, for several miles. The car was brought to a stop, and the victim, identified in court documents as G.T., raised his hands in the air in a manner indicating surrender. Other officers then ordered G.T. out of the car and began pulling him out of the car. Hammac ran to the front passenger side door, opened it, grabbed G.T. before he could exit, pulled him back into the car, and repeatedly punched G.T.’s head with a closed fist. The victim was not resisting in any way or posing a threat.
“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe and we at the Department of Justice have their backs,” said U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph. “However, those officers who betray the badge and the public’s trust, as the defendant did here, dishonor their profession and endanger the safety of their fellow officers. We will not tolerate police brutality in the Western District of Louisiana.”
“Officers who deprive individuals of their civil rights will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to upholding and defending the constitutional rights of victims, as shown by today’s sentencing.”
“The judge's decision today reinforces the FBI's commitment that civil rights and color of law violations will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Bryan A. Vorndran of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “Former Lake Charles Officer Robert Hammac abused his position of trust and the authority handed-down to him to protect the members of the public. Law enforcement officers and correctional officers acting under the color of law must ensure a person's civil rights are not violated. The FBI New Orleans Field Office, along the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will continue to uphold the constitution and protect the rights of all persons within U.S. territories.”
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla Bynog of the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Mary J. Hahn of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
# # #
Former Lake Charles Police Officer Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Civil Rights ViolationRead the Press Release
A former Lake Charles Police Department officer was sentenced today in federal court for using unreasonable excessive force during an arrest.
Robert Hammac, 44, of Lucedale, Mississippi, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr. to 18 months in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release. Hammac pleaded guilty on Aug. 15, 2019 to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.
“Officers who deprive individuals of their civil rights will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to upholding and defending the constitutional rights of victims, as shown by today’s sentencing.”
“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe and we at the Department of Justice have their backs,” said U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph for the Western District of Louisiana. “However, those officers who betray the badge and the public’s trust, as the defendant did here, dishonor their profession and endanger the safety of their fellow officers. We will not tolerate police brutality in the Western District of Louisiana.”
“The judge's decision today reinforces the FBI's commitment that civil rights and color of law violations will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Bryan A. Vorndran of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “Former Lake Charles Officer Robert Hammac abused his position of trust and the authority handed-down to him to protect the members of the public. Law enforcement officers and correctional officers acting under the color of law must ensure a person's civil rights are not violated. The FBI New Orleans Field Office, along the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will continue to uphold the constitution and protect the rights of all persons within U.S. territories.”
According to court documents, Hammac was involved in a vehicle pursuit on May 8, 2017, for several miles. The car was brought to a stop, and the victim, identified in court documents as G.T., raised his hands in the air in a manner indicating surrender. Other officers then ordered G.T. out of the car and began pulling him out of the car. Hammac ran to the front passenger side door, opened it, grabbed G.T. before he could exit, pulled him back into the car, and repeatedly punched G.T.’s head with a closed fist. The victim was not resisting in any way or posing a threat.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla Bynog of the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Mary J. Hahn of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Three Felons Appear in Court This Week in Connection with Federal Gun Crimes and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, MONROE, ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced the resolution of several cases this week, all of which are separately noted, that were brought pursuant to the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Project Safe Neighborhoods is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Federal Jury Convicts Monroe Man on Firearms and Drug Charges
MONROE – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a federal jury handed down a guilty verdict on November 14, 2019, against a Monroe man for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Jmarreon D. Mack, 38, of Monroe, was convicted after a two-day jury trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty.
Evidence presented during trial revealed that an officer with Louisiana State Police initiated a stop of Mack’s vehicle on April 12, 2018, for a traffic violation. As the trooper approached the vehicle, he smelled marijuana coming from inside. During a search of the vehicle, the trooper and an officer with the Monroe Police Department found a Glock .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber. In addition to the firearm, officers also found approximately 23.5 grams of marijuana in a bag on the front driver’s seat, a marijuana cigar, a marijuana grinder, and a digital scale. The gun that Mack possessed had been reported stolen.
Jmarreon Mack has prior felony convictions in Ouachita Parish for possession of cocaine (2005 and 2014), attempted distribution of cocaine (2005), and possession with intent to distribute cocaine (2008).
Mack will be sentenced by Judge Doughty on March 4, 2020, and faces five years to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and a $500,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Louisiana State Police, Monroe Police Department, Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office and Rayville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cadesby Cooper and Earl M. Campbell are prosecuting the case.
Shreveport Felon Sentenced for Firearms and Drug Offenses
SHREVEPORT – Demarcus Antonio June, 40, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced today, by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote, to 10 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and five years in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, to run consecutively. Judge Foote also sentenced Demarcus June to three years of supervised release following his release from prison.
According to court documents, Shreveport Police officers were patrolling a neighborhood in the Shreveport area when they encountered a female inside a vehicle parked in front of a residence. After learning from the female that she was concerned for the safety of someone inside, the officers made contact with Demarcus June, the owner of the residence. June let them in and officers observed small baggies, a digital scale, and 22 bags of crack cocaine in plain view on the living room coffee table. A search of the bedroom uncovered a Taurus PT111 9mm semi-automatic pistol with 10 rounds, and in the laundry room they found a Glock .45 caliber pistol with a high capacity magazine attached with 39 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition.
Demarcus June is a convicted felon and sex offender, having been convicted of carnal knowledge of a juvenile, and countless arrests for possession with intent to distribute, attempted murder, and obstruction of justice.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.
Alexandria Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearms and Drug Offenses
ALEXANDRIA – Ronald Louis Hall Jr., 29, of Alexandria, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on November 14, 2019, to possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone.
According to the guilty plea, on January 6, 2019, while traveling in Rapides Parish, a Louisiana State trooper initiated a stop of Hall’s vehicle for two traffic violations. As the officer approached the vehicle to make contact with Hall, he encountered the smell of burnt marijuana. Hall admitted to smoking marijuana earlier and consented to a search of his vehicle. During the search, officers found a 9mm extended magazine containing 16 rounds of ammunition in the glove compartment. Officers later discovered a hidden compartment in the vehicle that held five plastic cellophane bags containing 452 Oxycodone pills.
Hall has prior felony narcotics convictions in Rapides Parish for possession of marijuana second offense (2013) and third offense (2015), and possession with intent to distribute cocaine (2014).
Hall faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for the firearms offense, and up to 30 years in prison, six years of supervised release, and a $2 million fine for the drug charge. Judge Drell set the sentencing date for February 14, 2020.
The FBI Central Louisiana Safe Streets Task Force, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog is prosecuting the case.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of a firearm or ammunition.
# # #
Attorney General Barr Announces Launch of Project Guardian - A Nationwide Strategic Plan to Reduce Gun ViolenceRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/ALEXANDRIA/LAKE CHARLES/MONROE, La.: Today, Attorney General William P. Barr announced the launch of Project Guardian, a new initiative designed to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws across the country. Specifically, Project Guardian focuses on investigating, prosecuting, and preventing gun crimes.
Reducing gun violence and enforcing federal firearms laws have always been among the Department’s highest priorities. In order to develop a new and robust effort to promote and ensure public safety, the Department reviewed and adapted some of the successes of past strategies to curb gun violence. Project Guardian draws on the Department’s earlier achievements, such as the “Triggerlock” program, and it serves as a complementary effort to the success of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In addition, the initiative emphasizes the importance of using all modern technologies available to law enforcement to promote gun crime intelligence.
“Gun crime remains a pervasive problem in too many communities across America. Today, the Department of Justice is redoubling its commitment to tackling this issue through the launch of Project Guardian,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Building on the success of past programs like Triggerlock, Project Guardian will strengthen our efforts to reduce gun violence by allowing the federal government and our state and local partners to better target offenders who use guns in crimes and those who try to buy guns illegally.”
U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph said: “Attorney General Barr’s launch of Project Guardian reinforces and affirms what we have been doing under the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative here in the Western District of Louisiana. My office will double-down on our efforts to keep firearms away from and federally prosecute those who are prohibited from having them.”
“ATF has a long history of strong partnerships in the law enforcement community,” said Acting Director Regina Lombardo. “Make no mistake, the women and men of ATF remain steadfast to our core mission of getting crime guns off of our streets. ATF and U.S. Attorneys nationwide will leverage these partnerships even further through enhanced community outreach initiatives and coordination with local, state, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to cut the pipeline of crime guns from those violent individuals who seek to terrorize our communities. Project Guardian will enhance ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence, to include identifying, investigating and prosecuting those involved in the straw purchases of firearms, lying on federal firearms transaction forms, and those subject to the mental health prohibition of possessing firearms.”
Project Guardian’s implementation is based on five principles:
- Coordinated Prosecution. Federal prosecutors and law enforcement will coordinate with state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to consider potential federal prosecution for new cases involving a defendant who: a) was arrested in possession of a firearm; b) is believed to have used a firearm in committing a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime prosecutable in federal court; or c) is suspected of actively committing violent crime(s) in the community on behalf of a criminal organization.
- Enforcing the Background Check System. United States Attorneys, in consultation with the Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in their district, will create new, or review existing, guidelines for intake and prosecution of federal cases involving false statements (including lie-and-try, lie-and-buy, and straw purchasers) made during the acquisition or attempted acquisition of firearms from Federal Firearms Licensees.
Particular emphasis is placed on individuals convicted of violent felonies or misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence, individuals subject to protective orders, and individuals who are fugitives where the underlying offense is a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence; individuals suspected of involvement in criminal organizations or of providing firearms to criminal organizations; and individuals involved in repeat denials.
- Improved Information Sharing. On a regular basis, and as often as practicable given current technical limitations, ATF will provide to state law enforcement fusion centers a report listing individuals for whom the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has issued denials, including the basis for the denial, so that state and local law enforcement can take appropriate steps under their laws.
- Coordinated Response to Mental Health Denials. Each United States Attorney will ensure that whenever there is federal case information regarding individuals who are prohibited from possessing a firearm under the mental health prohibition, such information continues to be entered timely and accurately into the United States Attorneys’ Offices’ case-management system for prompt submission to NICS. ATF should engage in additional outreach to state and local law enforcement on how to use this denial information to better assure public safety.
Additionally, United States Attorneys will consult with relevant district stakeholders to assess feasibility of adopting disruption of early engagement programs to address mental-health-prohibited individuals who attempt to acquire a firearm. United States Attorneys should consider, when appropriate, recommending court-ordered mental health treatment for any sentences issued to individuals prohibited based on mental health.
- Crime Gun Intelligence Coordination. Federal, state, local, and tribal prosecutors and law enforcement will work together to ensure effective use of the ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGICs), and all related resources, to maximize the use of modern intelligence tools and technology. These tools can greatly enhance the speed and effectiveness in identifying trigger-pullers and finding their guns, but the success depends in large part on state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners sharing ballistic evidence and firearm recovery data with the ATF.
Federal law enforcement represents only about 15% of all law enforcement resources nationwide. Therefore, partnerships with state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the communities they serve are critical to addressing gun crime. The Department recognizes that sharing information with our state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners at every level will enhance public safety, and provide a greater depth of resources available to address gun crime on a national level.
For more information on Project Guardian, see the Attorney General’s memorandum at: https://www.justice.gov/ag/project-guardian-memo-2019/download.
# # #
Monroe Couple Sentenced to 69 Years Collectively in Prison for Armed Robbery Bank SpreeRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – A Monroe couple was sentenced to 69 years collectively in prison for robbing three financial institutions at gunpoint and for multiple firearms violations, announced United States Attorney David C. Joseph.
Lakendria Nicole Goings, 35, and David Ray Johnson, 37, were convicted on August 1, 2019, following a four-day trial, of all counts submitted to the jury – two counts of bank robbery, one count of credit union robbery, and three counts of using, carrying, brandishing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. In addition, Johnson was found guilty of two counts of convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty presided over the trial and handed down Johnson’s sentence of 41 and a half years in prison on November 6, 2019, and sentenced Goings today to 28 years, three months in prison.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Goings and Johnson’s spree began when they robbed the Guaranty Bank branch in Epps, Louisiana on November 10, 2017. The defendants entered the bank wearing hoodies to obscure their faces, and waiving semi-automatic handguns in the direction of customers and employees. Johnson stood at the entrance door acting as lookout and rear guard, while Goings directed the gun at the face of a bank teller, ordering the bank teller to fill a bag with money. The robbers left Guaranty Bank with approximately $17,307. After the robbery, Epps Police Department officers and West Carroll Parish Sheriff’s detectives found a cloth work glove worn by Johnson during the robbery, several rolls of coins, and a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, in a vacant lot close to the bank. DNA from the glove matched David Ray Johnson’s DNA, which was in a North Carolina DNA database as a result of Johnson’s 2012 felony conviction for financial card theft.
The second and third robberies occurred on November 27, 2017 (Barksdale Federal Credit Union in Cotton Valley, Louisiana), and December 18, 2017 (Winnsboro State Bank in Gilbert, Louisiana). On both occasions the defendants entered dressed in black, bulky hooded clothing with dark fabric covering their faces, waiving semi-automatic firearms at bank customers and employees and demanding money from the tellers. They left Barksdale FCU with $12,756, and Winnsboro State Bank with $28,447.
After the robbers left Winnsboro State Bank with a duffel bag full of money, Franklin Parish Sheriff’s deputies located the getaway car and began a high-speed chase with the defendants’ Toyota Sequoia, sometimes exceeding 100 mph. During the chase, Johnson, who was driving, pointed a semi-automatic handgun out of the driver’s window and fired several times at the deputies. The vehicle later crashed in a residential area in Winnsboro, Louisiana, and the defendants surrendered to authorities. Johnson exited the vehicle with a .40 caliber pistol in his hand, loaded with a round in the chamber and four live rounds in the magazine, which dropped to the ground as he submitted to arrest. This .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol was of the same make, model and caliber handgun that investigators found in the vacant lot near the Guaranty Bank robbery in Epps.
In the Sequoia, deputies found a duffel bag with $28,477 in cash, black clothing, hooded jackets, black fabric consistent with the masks worn during the robberies, and paper coin wrappers bearing handwritten account numbers belonging to Barksdale FCU customers. Officers also found a Double Star Brand, Model Star 15, .223-caliber semi-automatic AR-type rifle, which Johnson had just brandished in the Winnsboro State Bank robbery, loaded with a live round in the chamber and 27 rounds in a detachable magazine.
“Today’s sentence demonstrates our firm commitment to fight the menace of violent crime in the Western District of Louisiana,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph. “The lawlessness of these defendants and the terror they caused will not be tolerated.”
The FBI, ATF, Louisiana State Police, Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Office, East Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office, Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, Epps Police Department, Cotton Valley Police Department, and Winnsboro Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Aaron Crawford and Brandon B. Brown prosecuted the case, aided by District Attorney Mack Lancaster’s office, Fifth Judicial District of Louisiana.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
# # #