Western District of Louisiana
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Shreveport felon sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for possessing pistols, unregistered silencersRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Shreveport felon was sentenced last week to 162 months in prison for possessing two pistols with silencers after being arrested for burglary.
Tarodganey Sumner, 26, of Shreveport, was sentenced September 13, 2018 by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the May 3, 2018 guilty plea, Shreveport police arrested Sumner on September 11, 2017 for burglarizing a home on Burson Drive. Police found a Volquartsen Custom, .22-caliber pistol with an attached Silcenerco Spectre II, .22-caliber silencer on him. Police also searched the car Sumner had been driving that day and found a Benelli Arms S.PA., 9 mm pistol with an attached Silencerco 450SPREY, .45-caliber silencer. The two silencers were reported stolen and not registered to Sumner. He also was convicted on June 20, 2011 of burglary in Caddo Parish, and as a felon, was not allowed to possess firearms.
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 to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany E. Fields is prosecuting the case.
United States Attorney announces efforts to increase violent crime prosecutions in AcadianaRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that local efforts to increase violent crime prosecutions in the Acadiana area are having a substantial impact.
Mr. Joseph’s focus on violent crime is part of the Department of Justice’s ongoing effort to increase targeted prosecutions of violent crime through the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. In the past year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana has prosecuted more than 200 defendants throughout the district, approximately 78 of which are in the Acadiana area, for firearm related offenses, including felons and drug dealers in possession of firearms. These prosecutions represent approximately three times the number of such cases than have been brought in previous years.
The PSN program is a collaborative effort led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office involving local, state and federal law enforcement. In the Acadiana area, participants include the ATF, FBI, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Lafayette Parish District Attorney’s Office, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Police Department, Crowley Police Department, officers with the Lafayette City Marshal’s Office. The program is successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safe for everyone. United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority and has directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a crime reduction strategy involving PSN.
“Violent crime involving firearms has become a worsening problem in Acadiana,” Joseph stated. ”This trend must end. We have been working with partner agencies to provide a targeted approached to reducing firearm-related violence by bringing federal charges against those felons and drug dealers most likely to cause violence in their communities. We want to spread the word that the full weight of the federal criminal justice system is committed to prosecuting those who spread violence in our communities. They will be stopped.”
Included in our efforts, and in addition to the work of the ATF, is the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, a program that works hand in glove with the U.S. Attorney’s Project Safe Neighborhood Program. To combat violent crime both in Lafayette and across the state, the FBI New Orleans Field Office has formed several gang task forces specifically to identify and eradicate drug dealers and violent offenders from Louisiana streets and neighborhoods. In concert with our Law Enforcement partners, the FBI utilizes intelligence-based analysis to strategically place gang task forces and federal resources throughout the state, which have been very effective.
These include:
South Central Louisiana Gang Task Force – Lafayette
Northwest Louisiana Violent Crime Task Force - Shreveport
Capital Area Gang Task – Baton Rouge
Central Louisiana Gang Task Force – Alexandria / Monroe
New Orleans Gang Task Force – New Orleans
These task forces pursue violent gangs through sustained, proactive, coordinated investigations to obtain prosecutions on violations such as racketeering, drug conspiracy, and firearms violations. The Safe Streets Task Force concept expands cooperation and communication among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, increasing productivity and avoiding duplication of investigative efforts.
One of the key components of a Safe Streets Task Force is being able to combine short term, street level enforcement activity coupled with investigative tools and resources to root out and prosecute the entire gang.
Utilizing these best practices and through a number of drug and gang related investigations, the FBI’s Safe Street Task Force, in conjunction with federal, state, and local law enforcement inundated Lafayette streets and neighborhoods to stop the violence, apprehend gang members, and pursue swift justice for those responsible.
In the past few months, the FBI’s Lafayette Safe Streets Task Force has accounted for federal charges against 15 gang members at various levels within drug trafficking organizations. These include numerous narcotics and firearms charges, including over 150 pounds of methamphetamine, six firearms, and substantial quantities and heroin and cocaine.
The Western District of Louisiana consists of 42 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes and encompasses two-thirds of the State of Louisiana. This area covers the cities of Alexandria, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe and Shreveport.
U.S. Attorney’s Office indicts 9 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine in Calcasieu, Beauregard parishesRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that nine defendants were indicted for distributing methamphetamine and cocaine in Calcasieu and Beauregard parishes.
Five defendants from Calcasieu Parish and four illegal aliens from Cuba were named in the 16-count indictment. They are:
Antonio Montero, 55, of Cuba;
Julio Elizagarate, 67, of Cuba;
Michael Miers, 56, of DeRidder, Louisiana;
Zet Elizagarate, 56, of Lake Charles;
Feliz Perez, 55, of Cuba;
Juan Gonzalez, 66, of Cuba;
Gary S. Byrd, 47, of Sulphur, Louisiana;
Lionel Peschier, 48, of Sulphur; and
Angie Perez, 47, of Sulphur.
According to the indictment, Montero, Julio Elizagarate, Miers, Zet Elizagarate, Gary Bryd, Lionel Peshier and Angie Perez conspired to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine from June 7, 2017 to July 31, 2018. Montero, Elizagarate, Miers, Zet Elizagarate, Felix Perez and Juan Gonzalez conspired to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine from May 31, 2018 to July 31, 2018. The illegal activity took place in Calcasieu and Beauregard parishes. Julio and Zet Elizagarate are married. Angie Perez and Felix Perez are not related.
The defendants have been arrested except for Byrd, Peschier and Angie Perez. Charges include: Count 1 – conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; Counts 2 and 4 to 9 – methamphetamine distribution; Count 3 – attempted distribution of methamphetamine; Counts 10 and 11 – possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; Count 12 – conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine; and Counts 13 to 16 – possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
The defendants face various possible penalties depending on the drug quantity involved, their roles in the conspiracy and their criminal history. On the drug conspiracy and distribution counts, some defendants face up to 20 years and one defendant faces up to 40 years in prison. The defendants also face up to life of supervised release. Additionally, the defendants face fines up to $5 million and forfeiture of property seized in the case.
COUNTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Antonio Montero * * * * * * Julio Elizagarate * * * * * * * * Michael Miers * * * * Zet Elizagarate * * Felix Perez * * Juan Gonzalez * * Gary Byrd * * Lionel Peschier * * * Angie Perez * *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 prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Texas men plead guilty to trafficking 10 kilograms of fentanylRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that two Texas men pleaded guilty to trafficking more than 10 kilograms of fentanyl through Louisiana.
Felipe Rodriguez, 22, of McAllen, Texas, and Brandon Montoya, 24, of Kaufman, Texas, pleaded guilty before Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to the guilty plea, a Louisiana State Police trooper conducted a traffic stop May 10, 2018 on an SUV on Interstate-20 at mile marker 31 going eastbound. The trooper searched the vehicle and found a plastic bag containing an unknown substance. The vehicle was brought to Louisiana State Police Troop G headquarters. Upon a more thorough search, 10 plastic 1-kilogram bags containing fentanyl were found. The defendants admitted to transporting the drugs. They said they had been approached in Houston to travel to California to obtain the drugs. They were then instructed to drive to Atlanta, Georgia, where they would be paid for the delivery.
“Fentanyl kills, and drug dealers are selling this highly addictive drug at a growing rate,” Joseph stated. “The Department of Justice in collaboration with state and local law enforcement are fighting daily to limit the availability and spread of this deadly drug. This case alone involved enough fentanyl to kill everybody in the state of Louisiana. Through education of our youth and vigorous prosecution of those who traffic in synthetic opioids, my office is making the fight against this epidemic a top priority.”
“Fentanyl is the greatest and the most significant synthetic opioid threat to the United States, including here in Louisiana, where as little as 2 milligrams is a lethal dose,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen G. Azzam “The seizure in this investigation, which was 10 kilograms, saved countless lives – there was enough fentanyl to kill 5 million people. These convictions should send a message to all drug traffickers that DEA will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who ruthlessly traffic this and other dangerous drugs.”
The defendants face up to 10 years to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a $10 million fine. The court set sentencing for January 31, 2019.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. In recent years it has become more widely available in the United States and grown as a threat to public safety. It only takes a very small amount of fentanyl or its derivatives- which can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin or mucus membranes (such as being inhaled through the nose or mouth)- to result in severe adverse reactions including death. For more information about fentanyl, visit www.dea.gov/druginfo/fentanyl.
The DEA, Homeland Security Investigations and Louisiana State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany E. Fields is prosecuting the case.
United States Attorney announces settlement with St. Landry Parish head start nonprofit over grantsRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a settlement was reached with a St. Landry Parish Head Start administrator over its use of federal grants.
According to the court documents filed in the case, Child Development Council of Acadiana Inc. (CDCAI) operated the Head Start program at 11 facilities in St. Landry Parish. In 2010, the organization constructed a central administration building in Opelousas for $1.2 million using grant money, without the approval of the U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Because of the disputed use of the grant money, CDCAI’s contract was not renewed in 2015. Instead, it was awarded to an interim grantee, the Community Development Institute Head Start (CDI). In 2017, CDCAI began changing door locks at Head Start buildings in St. Landry Parish and demanded back rent for use of the buildings from CDI. The U.S. Attorney filed a restraining order in September of 2017 against CDCAI for CDI to gain access to the buildings again.
As part of the settlement agreement, the CDCAI agreed to offset its interest in the Head Start properties to the ACF in exchange for CDCAI’s debt owed for the unapproved use of grant funds.
“Providing early education and child development services to the community is central to the Head Start and Early Head Start programs,” Joseph stated. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prepared to seek legal action to ensure that the Administration for Children and Families is able to meet its mission.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen J. King and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the General Counsel handled the case.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Monroe felon pleads guilty to possessing shotgunRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a Monroe felon pleaded guilty to possessing a 12-gauge shotgun.
Adrian Terrell Riser, 32, of Monroe, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. According to the guilty plea, a Monroe Police Officer observed Riser on February 28, 2018 outside of an apartment on Richwood Road with a firearm in the left leg of his pants. He was arrested, and the weapon was found to be a Maverick Arms 12-gauge shotgun loaded with six rounds of ammunition. The defendant was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute marijuana in 2012, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in 2014 and possession of cocaine in 2016. These felonies barred him from possessing a firearm under federal law.
Riser faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set the sentencing date for January 2, 2019.
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 to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The ATF and the Monroe Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan is prosecuting the case.
Haughton man sentenced to 10 years in prison for distribution of methamphetamine obtained in DallasRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a Haughton man was sentenced to 120 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine, which he obtained in Dallas.
Jason Rich, 47, of Haughton, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to the May 15, 2018 guilty plea, a Louisiana State Police trooper stopped Rich’s vehicle May 3, 2018 near the intersection of Interstate 220 and Louisiana Highway 80. The trooper searched the vehicle and found a semi-automatic handgun, 141.3 grams of methamphetamine, 36.5 grams of the marijuana and three blue and white capsules containing approximately 31.1 grams of methamphetamine. Rich said he knew about the firearm and had purchased 4 ounces of methamphetamine from two different sources in the Dallas area.
The DEA and the DEA task force, which consists of state and local agencies, including the Louisiana State Police and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick prosecuted the case.
2 Shreveport felons plead guilty and another sentenced on firearm chargesRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that one Shreveport felon was sentenced and two other felons pleaded guilty this week to possessing firearms prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.
Shreveport felon sentenced to 30 months in prison for illegally possessing firearm in car at Quail Creek Road apartment
Charles M. Thomas, 21, of Shreveport, was sentenced Tuesday to two and a half years in prison by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of felon in possession of a firearm. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the February 21, 2018 guilty plea, a Shreveport Police officer observed a vehicle idling in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Quail Creek Road. When the officer approached the vehicle, he observed Thomas, the driver, placing a handgun under his seat. The firearm was loaded with four rounds of .45 caliber ammunition. Thomas had previously been convicted of three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm in 2016. The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case.
Shreveport felon pleads guilty to possessing pistol at Monkhouse Drive hotel
Kevin Summerfield, 26, of Shreveport, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. According to the guilty plea, a Shreveport Police officer encountered Summerfield at a hotel on Monkhouse Drive. The officer observed that Summerfield had a firearm in his waistband, and he was subsequently arrested. The firearm was a Hi-Point, Model CF380, .380-caliber pistol and was loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition. Summerfield was previously convicted of two burglary felonies in 2011 and was not allowed to possess a firearm according to federal law. Summerfield faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for December 19, 2018. The ATF and the Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan is prosecuting the case.
Shreveport felon pleads guilty to possessing pistol in car at Dickinson Street
Kenneth W. Robinson, 33, of Shreveport, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement officers observed Robinson on January 25, 2018 sitting in a vehicle on Dickinson Street. When officers approached, Robinson fled the vehicle on foot to a nearby apartment. Officers saw a Smith & Wesson SW9VE, 9 mm pistol on the driver’s side floorboard where Robinson had been sitting. They also located Robinson’s mobile phone next to the firearm. He was later arrested and admitted that the firearm was his. Robinson was previously convicted of illegal use of a weapon in 2004, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in 2008 and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in 2013. The felonies restricted him from possessing a firearm under federal law. Robinson faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for December 20, 2018. The ATF, Caddo-Shreveport Narcotics Unit and the Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg is prosecuting the case.
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 to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Colombian alien sentenced to 3 years in prison for using stolen id to obtain driver’s license in MonroeRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that an illegal alien from Colombia was sentenced Wednesday to 36 months in prison for using a stolen birth certificate and Social Security card to obtain identification cards in Monroe.
Jimmy Hurtado, 36, of Colombia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty on one count of falsely representing to be a citizen of the United States, one count of false representation and use of a Social Security number, and one count of aggravated identity theft. According to the guilty plea, Hurtado used the identity of a United States citizen from Puerto Rico in 2010 to obtain a state-issued identification card from the Monroe Department of Public Safety Office. He supplied a birth certificate and a Social Security number. He renewed the identification card in 2011 and 2012 and obtained a driver’s license using the same documents he used to obtain the state-issued identification card.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, ATF and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick prosecuted the case.
Shreveport doctor pleads guilty to forging prescriptions and using false identification to obtain controlled substancesRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a former resident physician at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center – Shreveport (LSUHSC) pleaded guilty to forging prescriptions for a controlled substance and then using false identification to fill those prescriptions.
Kevin V. Patel, 32, originally of Naperville, Illinois, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to one count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. According to the guilty plea, Patel was a resident physician at LSUHSC in Shreveport from 2014 to 2017. In May and June of 2017, Patel issued five forged prescriptions for controlled substances in his roommate’s name. Four were issued using the prescription pads of other physicians, without their knowledge or authorization. Patel then used his roommate’s identification at local pharmacies, without the roommate’s knowledge or approval, to successfully fill four of the forged prescriptions. Through this and other means, from April 2017 to June 2017, Patel fraudulently obtained approximately 150 tablets of Adderall and approximately 150 tablets of Vyvanse, both Schedule II controlled substances.
Patel faces up to four years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for January 3, 2019.
The DEA conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan is prosecuting the case.
Five previously deported aliens arrested in Sabine Parish plead guilty to re-entering the U.S.Read the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that four illegal aliens from Mexico and one from Guatemala pleaded guilty Tuesday to re-entering the United States after having been previously removed.
Jose Benjamin Duran-Tovar, 32, of Mexico; Ricardo Garcia-Herrera, 26, of Mexico; Adrian Valadez-Martinez, 27, of Mexico; Jorge Armando Venegas-Sanchez, 28, of Mexico; and Mario Orlando Lopez-Tzoy, 26, of Guatemala, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. According to the guilty pleas, Sabine Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrested the defendants who were all riding together on June 21, 2018 near Many, Louisiana.
After further investigation, law enforcement agents discovered that:
Duran-Tovar had been previously removed seven times. He was first arrested on June 8, 2009 in Beaumont, Texas, and removed to Mexico on June 9, 2009. After that, he was arrested six more times and removed to Mexico each time;
Garcia-Herrera had been previously removed twice. He was first arrested on July 19, 2011, near Hebbronville, Texas, and voluntarily returned to Mexico. He was arrested again on February 2, 2013 in Pike County, Mississippi, and later removed;
Valadez-Martinez was previously removed once before. He was arrested on September 7, 2015 near Carrizo Springs, Texas, and removed on September 8, 2015, at the Del Rio, Texas Port of Entry;
Venegas-Sanchez was previously removed once before. He was arrested on November 25, 2015 near Harlington, Texas, and was removed to Mexico on November 26, 2015; and
Lopez-Tzoy was previously removed once before. He was arrested and later removed on April 27, 2010. He re-entered the country on February 28, 2013, near Hidalgo, Texas.
The defendants were sentenced at the guilty plea hearing to time served and are to be deported.
United States Border Patrol and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo is prosecuting the case.
Morgan City man sentenced to 15 months in prison for omitting more than $250,000 of income on tax returnRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a Morgan City man was sentenced to one year and three months in prison for failing to report more than $250,000 in income on his 2012 tax return.
Victory Nam Ho, 39, of Morgan City, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of filing a false tax return. The defendant was also sentenced to one year of supervised release and was ordered to pay $69,167 in restitution. According to the May 23, 2018 guilty plea, Ho engaged in stock transactions and made $251,196 in 2012, but when he filed his taxes, he reported $14,742 as his income. As a result, he paid no income tax that year, which resulted in a loss of $69,167 to the U.S. Treasury.
The IRS conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly P. Uebinger prosecuted the case.
Illegal alien from Mexico sentenced to 7 months in prison for illegally re-entering U.S. for 4th timeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that an illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced Thursday to seven months in prison for re-entering the United States after having been previously removed on three occasions.
Alberto Rodriguez-Perez, 40, of Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. According to the May 4, 2018 guilty plea, a deportation officer encountered Rodriguez-Perez while at the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center. The officer later discovered that Rodriguez-Perez was illegally in the United States having been previously deported in 2004, 2010 and 2013.
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.
Breaux Bridge man pleads guilty to possessing mail stolen from Lafayette and St. Martin parishesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Breaux Bridge man pleaded guilty Thursday to possessing stolen mail from Lafayette and St. Martin parish addresses.
Kyle Joseph Collette, 35, of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of possession of stolen mail. According to the guilty plea, the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office was contacted on February 19, 2016 about an unrelated matter and learned about items being kept at a Lafayette storage unit. They searched the unit the next day with assistance of the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and found numerous items, some of which had been reported stolen, and several articles of mail belonging to St. Martin Parish addresses. St. Martin Parish authorities then learned of a room at a Lafayette motel where additional items were being kept. Law enforcement agents searched the motel room and found additional stolen items including mail from Lafayette and St. Martin parish addresses. The investigation confirmed that the mail had been removed from mailboxes in Lafayette Parish and St. Martin Parish.
Collette faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for January 2, 2019.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo is prosecuting the case.
Three felons sentenced for federal firearms violations in Northeast LouisianaRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. sentenced three felons Wednesday on various firearms related charges who were prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhood program.
Mississippi felon sentenced to 96 months in prison for possessing rifle in car after Delhi traffic stop
Terrance Deon Jordan, 35, of Terry, Mississippi, was sentenced to eight years in prison on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the April 25, 2018 guilty plea, a Louisiana State Police trooper pulled over Jordan’s vehicle on June 2, 2017 in Dehli, Louisiana, for driving 104 miles per hour in a 70-mile-an-hour zone. The trooper saw a rifle with a shortened stock in the driver’s seat next to Jordan’s right leg when he approached the vehicle. The firearm was later identified as a Norinco .223-caliber rifle. Ammunition was also found. Jordan is a felon who was convicted in Mississippi on multiple charges. The ATF and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Crawford prosecuted the case.
Monroe felon sentenced to 78 months in prison for possessing pistol
Daryl Nelson, 47, of Monroe, was sentenced to six and one-half years in prison on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the May 3, 2018 guilty plea, Monroe police executed a search warrant on March 28, 2017, and found Nelson alone in bed with a loaded Ruger, Model P85, 9 mm pistol. The firearm belonged to Nelson, and he has been convicted of multiple felonies. During the same search, officers found a loaded Glock, model 26, 9 mm pistol that belonged to codefendant Santron Jones, 33, of Monroe. Jones has been previously convicted of two drug felonies and is not allowed to possess a handgun. Jones pleaded guilty February 15, 2018, to the firearms count and was sentenced to 70 months in prison and three years of supervised release on June 13, 2018. The ATF and Monroe Metro Narcotics conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case.
Grayson man sentenced to 36 months in prison for illegally making, selling silencers
Dustin B. Demoss, 32, of Grayson, Louisiana, was sentenced to three years in prison by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of illegally selling and manufacturing firearm silencers. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the September 7, 2016 guilty plea, the ATF conducted a controlled purchase of three firearm silencers in May 2016 from a target who later identified Demoss as the manufacturer of the silencers. Demoss sold the silencers from a Facebook site called “Angel of Death Tactical,” which was not licensed under federal law. A search was conducted at Demoss’ residence on May 19, 2016. Several firearms were seized with silencers attached, as well as assorted silencer parts with drilled baffles and end caps, other assorted parts for making silencers, and boxes of parts showing mailing information that they were imported from India. Demoss also had drill presses used to complete the manufacture of silencers. The ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Crawford prosecuted the case.
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 to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Federal jury finds Abbeville man guilty of marijuana shipping schemeRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a federal jury found an Abbeville man guilty Wednesday of shipping marijuana to himself.
Jabori Huntsberry, 36, of Abbeville, Louisiana, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, one count of unlawful use of a communication facility, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote presided over the trial, which started Monday and ended Wednesday. The jury returned a guilty verdict after deliberating for approximately one hour and 45 minutes.
Evidence admitted at trial revealed that the defendant conspired to receive packages of marijuana from a California source using U.S. mail from October 2011 to February 2014. United States Postal Inspectors discovered that, at multiple times and using different addresses and names, Huntsberry shipped marijuana to himself. He had money transferred to a California contact before each package was sent. Law enforcement agents conducted a controlled delivery of one of the packages on February 14, 2014, to a residence next to Huntsberry’s home in Abbeville. After an occupant took the package, agents searched both homes. A search of Huntsberry’s home produced a notebook documenting drug activity, U.S. Postal Service mail labels, money transfer receipts, a Ruger model P-89, 9 mm semiautomatic pistol, and a Romarm Model CUGIR, 7.62X39 semiautomatic rifle.
The defendant shipped approximately 200 kilograms of marijuana to himself and electronically transferred nearly $300,000 to the source in California during the conspiracy.
The defendant faces 10 years to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a $10 million fine. Sentencing has been set for December 6, 2018.
The ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamilla A. Bynog and John Luke Walker are prosecuting the case.
Illegal alien from Mexico arrested in Calcasieu Parish pleads guilty to illegally re-entering U.S.Read the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that an illegal alien from Mexico pleaded guilty Tuesday to re-entering the United States after being deported for the fifth time.
Alfredo Sanchez-Hernandez, 39, of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay on one count of illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. According to the guilty plea, Sanchez-Hernandez was found in Calcasieu Parish on March 5, 2018 to be illegally in the United States. After further investigation, law enforcement agents discovered that Sanchez-Hernandez had been previously removed from the United States on four occasions with the most recent being on February 15, 2010 near San Ysidro, California. The defendant was convicted in California in May of 2000 for possession of heroin and was not allowed to re-enter the United States.
Sanchez-Hernandez faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Forrest Phillips is prosecuting the case.
New Iberia felon pleads guilty to possessing firearm purchased at Lafayette store, later used in videoRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a felon from New Iberia pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm purchased at a Lafayette sporting goods store that he later displayed in a music video.
Jaymie Williams, 22, of New Iberia, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Foote. According to the guilty plea, Williams was present when a Century Arms, Model RAS47 firearm was purchased on March 11, 2018 at a sporting goods store in Lafayette. Williams later featured the firearm in one of his music videos entitled “BG Flow.” In the video, Williams handled the firearm in many scenes. He also possessed the firearm on April 18, 2017 when he entered a Lafayette gun shop. Williams also was previously convicted of a felony in 2017 that prohibited him from possessing a firearm.
Williams faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set the sentencing date for November 16, 2018.
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 to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The ATF and Lafayette Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti is prosecuting the case.
Aryan Circle gang leader and two subordinate gang members plead guilty to accessory-after-the-fact to racketeering murder, among other chargesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – A senior leader of the Aryan Circle (AC) and a subordinate gang member pleaded guilty today and yesterday to being an accessory-after-the-fact to racketeering murder, announced U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph of the Western District of Louisiana and Assistant Attorney General Bryan A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
David Wayne Williams, 38, of Sulphur, Louisiana, a senior leader in the gang, and Leland Hamm, 43, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to being accessories-after-the-fact in the violent crimes in aid of racketeering murder of Clifton Hallmark, 51, before U.S. District Court Judge Dee D. Drell in the Western District of Louisiana. Williams also pleaded guilty to narcotics trafficking and weapons possession.
On July 25, Richard Alan Smith, 47, of Little Rock, Arkansas, also pleaded guilty to the accessory-after-the-fact charge in the racketeering murder of Clifton Hallmark.
According to the plea agreements of the defendants, the AC is a powerful race-based, multi-state organization that operates inside and outside of state and federal prisons throughout Texas, Louisiana, and the United States. The AC was established in the mid-1980s within the Texas prison system. Recently, the AC’s structure and influence expanded to rural and suburban areas throughout Texas, Louisiana, and Missouri. The AC emerged as an independent organization during a period of turmoil within the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. The AC was relatively small in comparison to other prison-based gangs, but grew in stature and influence in the 1990s, largely through violent conflict with other gangs.
The plea agreements further state that the AC enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, assault, robbery and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the organization. Members, and oftentimes associates, are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members without question.
By pleading guilty to the accessory charge, Williams, Hamm, and Smith admitted to being members of the AC criminal enterprise. Williams admitted to being a senior leader of the gang.
Sentencing for Williams and Hamm has been scheduled for Nov. 20 and Dec. 13, respectively, before Judge Dee D. Drell. Sentencing for Smith has been scheduled for November 20.
This case is being investigated by an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Prisons; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Louisiana State Police; Evangeline Parish, (Louisiana) Sheriff’s Office; Evangeline Parish District Attorney’s Office; Texas Department of Public Safety; Houston Police Department-Gang Division; Texas Department of Criminal Justice; New Jersey State Prison; Montgomery County (Texas) Precinct 1 Constable’s Office; Indiana State Police; Indiana Department of Corrections; the Carrollton (Texas) Police Department; Waller (Texas) Police Department; Montgomery County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office; Travis County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office and the Tarrant County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti of the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney David Karpel of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.
Aryan Circle Gang Leader and Two Subordinate Gang Members Plead Guilty to Accessory-After-the-Fact to Racketeering Murder, Among Other ChargesRead the Press Release
A senior leader of the Aryan Circle (AC) and a subordinate gang member pleaded guilty today and yesterday to being an accessory-after-the-fact to racketeering murder, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph of the Western District of Louisiana.
David Wayne Williams, 38, of Sulphur, Louisiana, a senior leader in the gang, and Leland Hamm, 43, of Tulsa, Oklahoma pleaded guilty to being accessories-after-the-fact in the violent crimes in aid of racketeering murder of Clifton Hallmark, 51, before U.S. District Court Judge Dee D. Drell in the Western District of Louisiana. Williams also pleaded guilty to narcotics trafficking and weapons possession.
On July 25, Richard Alan Smith, 47, of Little Rock, Arkansas, also pleaded guilty to the accessory-after-the-fact charge in the racketeering murder of Clifton Hallmark.
According to the plea agreements of the defendants, the AC is a powerful race-based, multi-state organization that operates inside and outside of state and federal prisons throughout Texas, Louisiana, and the United States. The AC was established in the mid-1980s within the Texas prison system (TDCJ). Recently, the AC’s structure and influence expanded to rural and suburban areas throughout Texas, Louisiana, and Missouri. The AC emerged as an independent organization during a period of turmoil within the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT). The AC was relatively small in comparison to other prison-based gangs, but grew in stature and influence within TDCJ in the 1990s, largely through violent conflict with other gangs, white and non-white alike.
The plea agreements further state that the AC enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, assault, robbery and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the organization. Members, and oftentimes, associates, are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members without question.
By pleading guilty to the accessory charge, Williams, Hamm, and Smith admitted to being members of the AC criminal enterprise. Williams admitted to being a senior leader of the gang.
Sentencing for Williams and Hamm has been scheduled for Nov. 20 and Dec. 13, respectively, before Judge Dee D. Drell. Sentencing for Smith has been scheduled for Nov. 20.
This case is being investigated by an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Prisons; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Louisiana State Police; Evangeline Parish, (LA) Sheriff’s Office; Evangeline Parish District Attorney’s Office; Texas Department of Public Safety; Houston Police Department-Gang Division; Texas Department of Criminal Justice; New Jersey State Prison; Montgomery County (TX) Precinct 1 Constable’s Office; Indiana State Police; Indiana Department of Corrections; the Carrollton (TX) Police Department; Waller (TX) Police Department; Montgomery County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; Travis County (TX) Sheriff’s Office and the Tarrant County (TX) Sheriff’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney David Karpel of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti of the Western District of Louisiana.
Felon from Many pleads guilty to possessing firearms after assault and police standoff at barbershopRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a felon from Many pleaded guilty Monday to possessing four firearms after an assault and police standoff at a barbershop.
Willie D. Carhee, 55, of Many, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the guilty plea, police responded to a 911 call of a domestic assault that occurred at a barbershop in Many on April 27, 2017. After the assault, Carhee, the assailant, ran inside the barbershop where he worked and refused to leave. The victim told the police dispatcher that Carhee had a firearm at the barbershop as well as firearms at his home. Law enforcement set up a perimeter and called SWAT. A Many Police officer found and seized a loaded Hi-Point Firearms .45 caliber pistol in plain view in Carhee’s car, which was parked in front of the barbershop. After SWAT threw a telephone through the window of the barbershop, Carhee surrendered to authorities. A search of the barbershop yielded approximately 190 grams of marijuana and a scale. Police searched Carhee’s home and found a Marlin, Glenfield model 70, .22 caliber rifle; a Remington, model: 770, .308 caliber rifle; a Remington, model: 710, .30-06 caliber rifle; and several marijuana plants in the backyard. Carhee has at least six felony convictions, which are: possession of a Schedule II drug in the 10th Judicial District, Natchitoches Parish, on March 12, 2012; possession/introduction of contraband into a penal institution on July 10, 2008; manufacturing of a Schedule I drug and illegal carrying of a weapon in Sabine Parish, Louisiana, on September 14, 2006; unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in the 294th Judicial District, Dallas, Texas; and reckless injury to a child in Dallas, Texas. Being a felon, Carhee is not allowed to possess a firearm.
Carhee faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of November 29, 2018.
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 to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The ATF and Many Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike O’Mara is prosecuting the case.
Shreveport felon sentenced to nearly five years in prison for possessing .45-caliber pistolRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a Shreveport felon was sentenced to 57 months in prison for possessing a .45-caliber pistol that he discarded while fleeing from police officers.
David Christopher Green, 22, of Shreveport, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of felon in possession of a firearm. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the March 8, 2018 guilty plea, Shreveport Police officers, who were patrolling the Clanton Street area June 21, 2017 in response to complaints of crimes and narcotics sales, observed Green and another individual standing in the roadway. After the patrol car stopped, the unnamed individual began approaching. The officers commanded the individual to stop, but instead, he and Green fled. Officers pursued and saw Green pick up an ice chest bag. Green tossed the bag in the corner of a fence as he fled and then went inside a Clanton home. They searched the home and found Green hiding behind a chair in a back room. The officers located the ice chest bag, which contained three large baggies of marijuana (approximately 82.9 grams); two large bottles of codeine syrup (approximately 840 milliliters ); a .45-caliber, Kimber semi-automatic handgun; and ammunition. Green has prior felonies, including a prior conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
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 to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney David Joseph voices support for 2019 opioid manufacturing reductionRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/MONROE/ALEXANDRIA/LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph voiced support today for a U.S. Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proposal to reduce the quantity of opioids being manufactured in the United States.
“One of my priorities as U.S. Attorney is to fight opioid trafficking and abuse in Louisiana,” Joseph stated. “Opioid abuse leads to crime, violence, and death. We have already increased our efforts to prosecute those who illegally traffic in opioids in and through the Western District of Louisiana. The DEA’s action in reducing the quantity of these drugs being manufactured will further our efforts to reduce opioid abuse in our communities.”
Consistent with President Trump’s “Safe Prescribing Plan” that seeks to “cut nationwide opioid prescription fills by one-third within three years,” the proposal decreases manufacturing quotas for the most six frequently misused opioids for 2019 by an average ten percent as compared to the 2018 amount. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) marks the third straight year of proposed reductions, which help reduce the amount of drugs potentially diverted for trafficking and used to facilitate addiction.
On July 11, 2018, the Justice Department announced that DEA was issuing a final rule amending its regulations to improve the agency’s ability consider the likelihood of whether a drug can be diverted for abuse when it sets annual opioid production limits. The final rule also promotes greater involvement from state attorneys general, and today’s proposed reduction will be sent to those offices.
In setting the aggregate production quote (APQ), DEA considers data from many sources, including estimates of the legitimate medical need from the Food and Drug Administration; estimates of retail consumption based on prescriptions dispensed; manufacturers’ disposition history and forecasts; data from DEA’s own internal system for tracking controlled substance transactions; and past quota histories.
Ultimately, revised limits will encourage vigilance on the part of opioid manufacturers, help DEA respond to the changing drug threat environment, and protect the American people from potential addictive drugs while ensuring that the country has enough opioids for legitimate medical, scientific, research, and industrial needs.
"The opioid epidemic that we are facing today is the worst drug crisis in American history," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. "President Trump has set the ambitious goal of reducing opioid prescription rates by one-third in three years. We embrace that goal and are resolutely committed to reaching it. According to the National Prescription Audit, we have already made significant progress in reducing prescription rates over the past year. Cutting opioid production quotas by an average of ten percent next year will help us continue that progress and make it harder to divert these drugs for abuse. The American people can be confident that federal law enforcement and the Trump administration are taking action to protect them from dangerous drugs. These smarter limits bring us one big step closer to President Trump's goal of finally ending this unprecedented crisis. I congratulate Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon and his team for taking action.”
“We’ve lost too many lives to the opioid epidemic and families and communities suffer tragic consequences every day,” said DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. “This significant drop in prescriptions by doctors and DEA’s production quota adjustment will continue to reduce the amount of drugs available for illicit diversion and abuse while ensuring that patients will continue to have access to proper medicine.”
Once the aggregate quota is set, DEA allocates individual manufacturing and procurement quotas to those manufacturers that apply for them. DEA may revise a company’s quota at any time during the year if change is warranted because of increased or decreased sales or exports, new manufacturers entering the market, new product development, or product recalls.
When Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act, the quota system was intended to reduce or eliminate diversion from “legitimate channels of trade” by controlling the quantities of the basic ingredients needed for the manufacture of controlled substances.
The Proposed Aggregate Production Quotas for schedule I and II controlled substances published in the Federal Register reflects the total amount of controlled substances necessary to meet the country’s medical, scientific, research, industrial, and export needs for the year and for the establishment and maintenance of reserve stocks. DEA establishes an APQ for more than 250 schedule I and II controlled substances annually.
In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines to practitioners recommending a reduction in the prescribing of opioid medications for chronic pain. DEA and its federal partners have increased efforts in the last several years to educate practitioners, pharmacists, manufacturers, distributors, and the public about the dangers associated with the misuse of opioid medications and the importance of proper prescribing.
Shreveport man pleads guilty to damaging air force property with vehicle, drunk drivingRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Shreveport man pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle while intoxicated onto Barksdale Air Force Base, damaging property and fleeing authorities.
Michael Taylor Phillips, 26, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to one count of damage to property of the United States; one count of driving while intoxicated, second offense; and one count of resisting arrest. According to the guilty plea, Phillips drove his vehicle into the North Gate of Barksdale Air Force Base and struck a steel bollard in the gate’s secured area. The impact damaged the bollard, and Phillips’ vehicle continued onto the airbase before it came to a stop at the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command Headquarters building. Phillips exited the vehicle and ran into a base residential area. He was later apprehended and detained.
Phillips faces up to 10 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, restitution and a $250,000 fine. The court set a November 29, 2018 sentencing date.
The FBI and U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John Odom are prosecuting the case.
Shreveport felon sentenced to more than 8 years in prison for possessing pistolRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Shreveport felon was sentenced Wednesday to 100 months in prison for illegal possession of a pistol.
Jamario Montreal Harris, 26, of Shreveport, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement agents found Harris in possession of a .40 caliber Glock pistol on March 20, 2017. He was previously convicted of a felony and is not allowed to possess a firearm.
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 to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tennille M. Gilreath and Mike O’Mara prosecuted the case.
Lafayette man sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison for conspiring to distribute multiple quantities of fentanyl, heroin, opioids and other controlled substances and illegally possessing a firearmRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Lafayette man was sentenced Monday to 151 months in prison for conspiring to distribute multiple quantities of narcotics and illegal possessing a 9 mm handgun.
Jacob Glen Collett, 35, of Lafayette, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to the April 19, 2018 guilty plea, Collett was arrested during an ongoing narcotics investigation in Lafayette and Jeff Davis parishes that took place from April 2017 to August 2017. Law enforcement agents found Collett in possession of 705.2 grams of methamphetamine, 222 dosage units of LSD, 56 tablets containing fentanyl, 4.01 grams of MDMA, 38.9 grams of heroin, 16.5 grams of cocaine, 52.3 grams of a mixture and substance containing THC, a Berretta 9 mm model 92FS handgun, and 16 rounds of ammunition.
The DEA, ATF, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Department, Lafayette Police Department, Lafayette Metro Narcotics Task Force, Calcasieu Combined Anti-Drug Task Force and Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.
Former breast cancer center business manager sentenced to 33 months for wire, tax fraudRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Youngsville woman was sentenced Tuesday to two years and nine months in prison for stealing nearly $200,000 while working as business manager at a local breast cancer center and to filing false income tax returns.
Sarah J. Broussard, 48, of Youngsville, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of wire fraud and one count of making and subscribing a false income tax return. She was also sentenced to three years of supervised release, ordered to pay $197,227 to the breast cancer center and ordered to pay $48,838 to the IRS. According to the April 4, 2018 guilty plea, Broussard embezzled from the breast cancer center while working there as the business manager beginning in late 2009 and continuing through November 2014. She also did not report the stolen money as income on her income taxes returns for tax years 2010 to 2014.
The IRS - Criminal Investigative Division, U.S. Secret Service and Lafayette Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.
Illegal alien from Honduras arrested in Lafayette Parish sentenced to 3 years in prison for illegally re-entering U.S. 3rd timeRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that an illegal alien from Honduras was sentenced to a total of 36 months in prison for re-entering the United States after being deported on two previous occasions and for violating an earlier term of supervised release.
Henry Ariel Canacas-Cortez, 26, also known as Henry Ariel Gonzales-Canacas, of Francisco Morazan, Talanga, Honduras, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to 24 months in prison on one count of illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. He was also sentenced to 12 months to run consecutively to the 24-month term for the revocation of his supervised release entered by the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. According to the May 4, 2018 guilty plea, Lafayette Sheriff’s deputies arrested Canacas-Cortez on March 1, 2018. He admitted to providing a false name to officers when arrested and later admitted to illegally re-entering the United States on two prior occasions. He was arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2015 for attempted distribution of controlled substances and was deported on August 12, 2015. He was found to be in the United States a second time, and he was removed on July 14, 2017. He illegally entered the United States a third time on December 16, 2017 prior to his arrest.
Homeland Security Investigations and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo prosecuted the case.
Lafayette man pleads guilty to possessing stolen pistolRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Lafayette man pleaded guilty Thursday to possessing a stolen pistol he had purchased on the street.
Paul Sidney Breaux, 37, of Lafayette, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of possession of a stolen firearm. According to the guilty plea, Lafayette police arrested Breaux on May 1, 2018. At the time of his arrest, he possessed a Springfield Armory Model 1911 pistol and was aware it was stolen. He told officers he had purchased the firearm five days earlier on the street from some younger males.
Breaux faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set the sentencing date for October 31, 2018.
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 to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The ATF and the Lafayette Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti is prosecuting the case.
Illegal alien sentenced to 6 months in prison for resisting deportation ordersRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Togo national was sentenced Wednesday to six months in prison for refusing to leave the country twice after being ordered to depart.
Aboudou Waka, 34, of Kpalime, Togo, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on two counts of failure to depart. Evidence admitted at a two-day trial that ended May 4, 2018 showed that on two occasions U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents attempted to remove Waka via an escorted commercial flight from the Alexandria International Airport. The defendant hampered deportation efforts on March 13, 2017 and April 11, 2017 by verbally and physically resisting attempts to escort him onto the plane.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Forrest Phillips prosecuted the case.
Federal jury finds Breaux Bridge man guilty of distributing heroin in AcadianaRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a federal jury found a Breaux Bridge man guilty of conspiring with three Lafayette residents to sell heroin.
Joshua Edwards, 32, of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. United States District Judge Dee D. Drell presided over the trial, which started Monday and ended today. Evidence admitted at trial revealed that Edwards, along with Jacobe Arceneaux, 34; Terrence T. Woods, 33; and Robert Jenkins, 35, all of Lafayette, conspired to distribute heroin in the Acadiana area in 2016 and 2017. Law enforcement agents identified Arceneaux as a heroin supplier who used a relative’s home on Simcoe Street in Lafayette as a stash house and used the relative as an intermediary to sell drugs.
Edwards faces a minimum of 10 years to life in prison, eight years of supervised release and a $5 million fine. Sentencing has been set for October 31, 2018. Arceneaux pleaded guilty to the distribution count on July 13, 2017, and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 9, 2018. Woods pleaded guilty to the distribution count on September 20, 2017, and the sentencing date has not been set. Jenkins pleaded guilty to the distribution count on January 11, 2018, and he was sentenced on May 8, 2018 to 90 months in prison and four years of supervised release.
The FBI, DEA, Lafayette Metro Narcotics and other law enforcement agencies conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert C. Abendroth and Daniel J. McCoy are prosecuting the case.
Texas men sentenced for using card skimmers to steal identities, moneyRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that two men from Austin, Texas, were sentenced for using a credit card skimmer to steal people’s identities, then create fake credit cards and steal thousands of dollars from their private bank accounts.
Emicel Artigas Garcia, 39, was sentenced to 54 months in prison and Adalberto Ramos Cuellar, 42, was sentenced to 51 months in prison by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. They also face three years of supervised release and must pay $2,637.31.
According to the guilty pleas, the defendants were observed on July 14, 2017 at a Bossier City retail store’s self-checkout counter swiping multiple cards in order to purchase prepaid money and gift cards. Bossier City police later approached the defendants in the parking lot and found seven credit cards and three gift cards in Cuellar’s possession, which bore the defendants’ names. After the electronic information was obtained from the cards, law enforcement agents found that stolen identities were on the cards, even though they were labeled with the defendants’ names. Police later searched the defendants’ car and found seven USB thumb drives, one laptop, eight additional re-encoded cards, a cell phone, a gas pump key, and a gas pump skimmer. Gas pump skimmers are illegal devices used to steal credit card information. The evidence from the seized devices showed that the defendants downloaded private card information between October 2016 and July 2017. The cell phone contained pictures of screens showing the stolen information, and the laptop contained compromised credit/debit card data for 793 additional cards.
The U.S. Secret Service and the Bossier City Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath prosecuted the case.
Sulphur man sentenced to 5 years and 5 months in prison for storing child pornography onlineRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Sulphur man was sentenced Thursday to 65 months in prison for storing child pornography online.
Cameron Deshown Fairley, 28, of Sulphur, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of possession of child pornography. He was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release and is required to register as a sex offender. According to the April 25, 2018 guilty plea, Fairley maintained an online data storage account from September 2016 to February 2017 where he possessed images and videos of child pornography. He used the account to access and view child pornography. Some of the images depicted children under the age of 12.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. 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 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.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti prosecuted the case.
Lake Charles woman sentenced to 22 months in prison for stealing more than $332,000 from law firmRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Lake Charles law firm employee was sentenced Thursday to one year and 10 months in prison for stealing more than $332,000 from the firm.
Pamela Ann Fayko, 54, of Lake Charles, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of wire fraud. She was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $332,110 restitution. According to the February 9, 2018 guilty plea, Fayko worked for a Lake Charles law firm as a bookkeeper and office manager from 2008 to 2016. As part of her job duties, she paid all the bills with a checkbook and had access to the company credit card. From 2011 to 2016, Fayko wrote fraudulent checks and made fraudulent purchases with the credit card, which cost the firm $332,110.30.
The U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker prosecuted the case.
Illegal alien from Mexico arrested in Calcasieu Parish sentenced for illegally re-entering U.S.Read the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that an illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced Thursday to six months in prison for re-entering the United States after being deported.
Raul Delacruz-Valdez, 31, of Fresnillo, Zacatescas, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. According to the March 13, 2018 guilty plea, Louisiana State Police conducted a traffic stop on Delacruz-Valdez’s vehicle on March 20, 2017 in Calcasieu Parish. He was arrested for suspicion of driving while intoxicated. After his arrest, law enforcement agents discovered that he was an illegal alien who had re-entered the United States without obtaining permission. He had previously been removed on October 18, 2010.
Homeland Security Investigations and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti prosecuted the case.
Deville man sentenced to 27 months in prison for possessing an unregistered silencerRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Deville man was sentenced Tuesday to two years and three months in prison for possessing a silencer that had not been registered.
Jonathan Hayes, 32, of Deville, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of receipt or possession of an unregistered firearm. He was also sentenced to two years of supervised release. According to the April 16, 2018 guilty plea, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents arrested Hayes on June 1, 2016 in the Camp Beauregard Wildlife Management Area. Agents found him in possession of a Ruger .22 caliber rifle, a Savage .22 caliber rifle and a firearm silencer. The silencer, which is a firearm under federal law, had no manufacturer’s mark of identification or serial number. The silencer was not registered in the National Firearms and Transfer Record.
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 to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The ATF and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti prosecuted the case.
Alabama man arrested in Lake Charles sentenced to 8 years in prison for trafficking cocaineRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a man from Alabama was sentenced Thursday to 96 months in prison for trafficking cocaine in his vehicle.
Robert Tremaine Williams, 37, of Ozark, Alabama, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He was also sentenced to four years of supervised release. According to the March 12, 2018 guilty plea, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop on September 9, 2014 in Lake Charles on Williams’ vehicle. During a search of his vehicle, officers found 1,267.01 grams of cocaine in the trunk.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker prosecuted the case.
Pollock woman pleads guilty to stealing more than $110,000 of her deceased mother’s veterans benefitsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Pollock woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing more than $114,000 in Veteran’s Affairs (VA) disability benefits.
Elizabeth Marion Poole, 44, of Pollock, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee. D. Drell to one count of theft of money belonging to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. An agent from the VA, Office of Inspector General, provided summary testimony during the guilty plea hearing as the factual basis for the guilty plea. The agent testified that Poole’s mother died in September of 2007, while receiving VA benefits as the surviving widow of a U.S. Navy veteran who had retired with a 100 percent service-related disability. Poole did not notify the VA of her mother’s death, and the VA continued to send monthly benefit payments to Poole’s mother by direct deposits into a joint account that Poole held with her mother. Poole received and spent the monthly VA payments after her mother died in 2007 until June of 2013. She received approximately $114,210 in VA benefit payments that she was not entitled to.
Poole faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and restitution. The court set the sentencing date for November 19, 2018.
The Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel is prosecuting the case.
Pollock prisoner pleads guilty to possessing an improvised knifeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Pollock prisoner pleaded guilty Monday to possessing an improvised weapon.
Jihad Chase, 36, an inmate at U.S. Penitentiary in Pollock, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee. D. Drell to one count of possessing contraband in prison. According to the guilty plea, Chase was found in possession of an improvised weapon, commonly referred to as a “shank,” on April 25, 2017 while at the U.S. Penitentiary in Pollock. The weapon in Chase’s possession was an object, sharpened to a point, approximately 6.5 inches in length, and prohibited on prison grounds.
Chase faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set the sentencing date for October 16, 2018.
The FBI and U.S. Bureau of Prisons conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Forrest T. Phillips is prosecuting the case.
Church Point woman sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison for drug, firearm chargesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Church Point woman was sentenced Tuesday to 262 months in prison for methamphetamine and cocaine distribution in Acadia and Lafayette parishes, and for illegally possessing a firearm.
Courtney Lynn Daigle, 42, of Church Point, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine and 5 kilograms of cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. She was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to the November 8, 2017 guilty plea, law enforcement agents identified Daigle as a supplier of methamphetamine while investigating drug distribution in Acadia and Lafayette parishes. Law enforcement executed a federal search warrant on February 3, 2017 at her residence in Church Point and a state search warrant at a related residence in Rayne, Louisiana. As a result, law enforcement recovered a Smith and Wesson SD9VE 9 mm handgun, 60 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, and approximately 679.1 grams of methamphetamine, 873.1 grams of cocaine, 12.9 grams of cocaine base, 589.4 grams of marijuana, 82 dosage units of LSD, 116 dosage units of alprazolam, 1.5 dosage units of hydrocodone, one 10 milliliter vial of testosterone cypionate, and one 10 milliliter vial of testosterone enanthate. Officers also recovered $5,000, digital scales, vacuum bags/sealer, and narcotics packaging.
The DEA, ATF, Louisiana State Police, Lafayette Metro Narcotics Task Force, Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office and Eunice Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.
Singer man pleads guilty to bank robbery for heist of Dequincy bankRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a man from Singer pleaded guilty Wednesday to robbing a DeQuincy bank of nearly $16,000.
Gordon Scott Cooper, 56, of Singer Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay to one count of bank robbery. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Robert G. James. According to the guilty plea, Gordon Cooper entered a bank in DeQuincy, Louisiana, with an air-powered BB gun that looked like an automatic pistol and stole $15,999 from two teller drawers. Police later learned that a maroon Honda Pilot had been seen in the area prior to the robbery and that the driver had been seen acting suspiciously. Police located Chad Allen Cooper, 39, of Singer, Louisiana, who is Gordon Cooper’s nephew and found BBs and a CO2 cartridge for the air pistol used in the robbery. Chad Cooper admitted to assisting in the robbery and directed officers on how to find his uncle. At Gordon Cooper’s residence, police located the Honda Pilot, a plastic bag containing money, and a pair of tennis shoes that Gordon Cooper identified as the ones worn in the robbery.
Gordon Cooper faces up to 25 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for October 1, 2018. Chad Cooper pleaded guilty on June 5, 2018, to one count of bank robbery and faces the same penalties as Gordon Cooper. The court set Chad Cooper’s sentencing for October 1, 2018.
The FBI and the Dequincy Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo is prosecuting the case.
United States Attorney announces joint efforts to increase violent crime prosecutions in ShreveportRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that efforts to increase violent crime prosecutions in the Shreveport area are having a positive effect on crime rates.
United States Attorney Joseph’s focus on violent crime is part of the Department of Justice’s ongoing effort to increase targeted prosecutions of violent crime through the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. In the past year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana has prosecuted more than 200 defendants throughout the district, approximately 100 of which are in the Shreveport area, for firearm related offenses, including felons and drug dealers in possession of firearms. These prosecutions represent approximately three times the number of such cases than have been brought in previous years.
The PSN program is a collaborative effort led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office involving local, state and federal law enforcement. In Shreveport, participants include the ATF, FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Shreveport Police Department and Shreveport Mayor’s office. The program has been proven to be successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safe for everyone. United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a crime reduction strategy involving PSN.
“The aim of these targeted prosecutions is to remove the most violent and dangerous offenders from our streets,” Joseph stated. ”We stand with our federal and local partners in facing the threats of violence, gun crimes and drug abuse in our communities. We will not be deterred, and we will continue to step up the pressure on these bad actors. The message is clear, if you threaten the safety and security of innocent people in our communities, you will face the consequences.”
The Western District of Louisiana consists of 42 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes and encompasses two-thirds of the State of Louisiana. This area covers the cities of Alexandria, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe and Shreveport.
Bossier City felon sentenced to 36 months for illegally possessing a pistolRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a Bossier City man previously convicted of a felony was sentenced to three years in prison for unlawfully possessing a .40-caliber pistol.
Leroy George, 31, of Bossier City, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of felon in possession of a firearm. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the March 8, 2018 guilty plea, law enforcement agents executed a warrant on August 18, 2017 at a Bossier City apartment and located a Taurus, model PT 101, .40-caliber pistol under a pillow in George’s bedroom. George was previously convicted of burglary in 2007 and robbery in 2015.
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 to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The ATF and U.S. Marshals Service Violent Offenders Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case.
Shreveport tax preparer sentenced to 36 months in prison for filing false tax returns for self, customersRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a woman who owned a Shreveport tax preparation business was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison for filing false tax returns for herself and her clients.
Deborah A. Turner, 47, of Shreveport, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of making and subscribing a false tax return and one count of aiding and assisting in making and subscribing a false return. She was also sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to pay $128,828 restitution. According to the January 22, 2018 guilty plea, Turner owned Tax Express Refund, a tax preparation business located in Shreveport. The IRS revoked her Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) in January 2014, but she instead started using her daughter’s EFIN to continue filing tax returns. She filed numerous tax returns for clients for tax years 2011 to 2013 containing false information so they could claim deductions, credits and expenses to increase the size of their refunds. She also filed a false individual tax return for tax year 2013 where she failed to report $336,865 of income she received from her business.
“Those who file federal taxes on the behalf of others have a responsibility to follow the law and conduct business honestly and ethically,” Joseph stated. “I want to thank the IRS agents and prosecutors assigned to this case for their hard work in holding this tax preparer accountable.”
“As a paid preparer, Deborah Turner was afforded a high level of trust from both her clients and the United States government,” Special Agent in Charge, Thomas J. Holloman, III, IRS – Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office, stated. “Turner violated that trust when she filed false income tax returns for herself and others, earning herself significant jail time. IRS - CI will continue to pursue the prosecution of return preparers who engage in the same or similar criminal activities.”
IRS-Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath and Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Cytheria D. Jernigan prosecuted the case.
Shreveport felon sentenced for possession of pistolRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a Shreveport felon was sentenced to 57 months in prison for illegally possessing a pistol after being convicted of multiple felonies.
Gabriel Jones, 37, of Shreveport, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the January 26, 2018 guilty plea, Shreveport police officers were executing a warrant for someone else on August 7, 2017 at Jones’ residence. During a search of the residence, police found marijuana in plain view, and they found a Ruger, Model P85, 9 mm pistol, crack cocaine and additional marijuana in the back bedroom closet. The pistol had a 30-round extended magazine inside it. The other occupants of the residence denied ownership of the gun and said it belonged to Jones. Police also searched Jones’ cell phone and found images and data showing the pistol belonged to him.
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 to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The ATF, U.S. Marshals Service and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.
Shreveport man sentenced to 66 months in prison for illegal possession of marijuana, firearmsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Shreveport man was sentenced Tuesday to five years and five months in prison for possessing drugs and firearms.
LaWarron Cummings, 34, of Shreveport, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to the April 5, 2018 guilty plea, law enforcement agents received a tip that Cummings was conducting drug sales in the Martin Luther King area of Shreveport, and he possessed multiple firearms. Shreveport police located Cummings at a residence where police found him in possession of marijuana, one Century Arms SKS semiautomatic rifle; a RG17, Caliber: .38 mm, Derringer; and ammunition.
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 to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The ATF, State of Louisiana Probation and Parole Division, and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.
Sabine Parish felon pleads guilty to possessing four firearms at pawn shopRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Converse felon pleaded guilty Tuesday to possessing two rifles, a revolver and a shotgun that he pawned.
Joseph Seth Rivers, 35, of Converse, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement agents discovered that on August 20, 2016 in Many, Louisiana, Rivers had pawned four firearms: a Smith & Wesson revolver, model: 66, caliber .357; a Ruger rifle, model: 10-22, caliber 22LR; a Browning shotgun, model BPS, caliber 16 gauge; and a Remington rifle, model: 700, caliber .270. Pawn shop staff provided a copy of Rivers’ driver’s license to law enforcement, which he had presented when pawning the firearms. Rivers is not allowed to possess firearms as he has been previously convicted of a felony for aggravated assault with a firearm in 2009.
Rivers faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of October 24, 2018.
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 to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The ATF and Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney a Tennille M. Gilreath is prosecuting the case.
Former Avoyelles Correctional Center warden’s ex-wife pleads guilty to conspiracy chargeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that the ex-wife of a former warden for the Avoyelles Correctional Center pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Tonia Bandy Cain, 43, of Moreauville, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to the guilty plea, Nathan Burl Cain II, 51, also of Moreauville, was the warden of Avoyelles Correctional Center located in Cottonport, Louisiana, and Tonia Cain served as the manager of the business office of the facility. They are accused of using Louisiana Department of Corrections credit cards to purchase items for personal use while misrepresenting that the items were bought for official use between December 2012 and January 2016. The defendants are also accused of structuring purchases to evade state purchasing restrictions.
Tonia Cain faces up to 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The court set sentencing for October 9, 2018. Nathan Cain was indicted for one count of conspiracy and 17 counts of wire fraud.
The FBI and the Louisiana Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Luke Walker and David J. Ayo are prosecuting the case.
Lafayette man pleads guilty to making threatening communications to office of U.S. Representative Clay HigginsRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Lafayette man pleaded guilty Thursday to making threatening communications to the Lafayette office of U.S. Representative Clay Higgins.
Sohail Rana, 60, of Lafayette, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of threats by interstate communications. According to the guilty plea, Rana called Higgins’ Lafayette office on July 17, 2017 while in Colorado and spoke to his district director. Rana was described as being irate, cursing and screaming during the call. He said that he would end Higgins’ career and kill Higgins. The district director noted the phone number and reported the call within minutes to his chief of staff in Washington, D.C. Rana also made five subsequent calls that day with no additional threats. Rana took no steps toward following through on the original threat. The phone number used to call the office was traced to Rana’s cell phone, and he was later arrested in Colorado.
Rana faces up to five years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for October 9, 2018.
The FBI, U.S. Capitol Police-Threat Assessment Section, Lafayette Police Department and the Costilla County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo is prosecuting the case.
Abbeville felon pleads guilty to possessing pistolRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that an Abbeville man pleaded guilty Monday to illegally possessing a pistol.
Carlin Jerrid Montgomery, 38, of Abbeville, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carol Whitehurst to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Montgomery’s home on April 28, 2017 and found a .45-caliber pistol and ammunition. The handgun was concealed in the exterior shell of a black metal stereo tuner lying on the floor under Montgomery’s bedroom window. The defendant was convicted on June 11, 2002 for possession of crack cocaine and is not allowed to possess a firearm.
Montgomery faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of September 28, 2018.
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 to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth is prosecuting the case.