Western District of Louisiana

LAKE CHARLES, La. – A Houston man was sentenced last week to 154 months in prison for robbing from a Roanoke drug trafficker, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Francisco Javier Camacho, 42, of Houston, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi to 70 months in prison for one count of interference with commerce by robbery and 84 months for one count of use and carrying of a firearm during a crime of violence with the prison terms to be served consecutively. He is also to serve five years of supervised release.

According to evidence presented at the November 1, 2012 guilty plea, Camacho and an accomplice, Cruz Martinez-Encinas, visited the home of a known drug trafficker on February 15, 2011 in Roanoke, La., saying they wanted to sell marijuana.  Instead of selling illegal drugs, the two men robbed the drug trafficker, stealing three guns and $7,500 in cash.  Camacho and Martinez-Encinas tied up the drug trafficker and a female who was present at the home. They then fled the scene.  The two were able to free themselves, and the drug trafficker followed the two men onto Interstate 10.  While chasing the men by car in between the Welsh, La., and Roanoke exits, the drug trafficker rammed the back of the car that Camacho was traveling in, which caused Camacho’s vehicle to run off the road and crash.  Camacho and Martinez-Encinas exited the vehicle and ran north. They were later arrested.  While in pursuit, law enforcement found four semi-automatic pistols. They also found $7,500 on Camacho when he was apprehended.

Martinez-Encinas pleaded guilty September 1, 2011. He was sentenced to 65 months in prison for possession of a stolen firearm and 65 months in prison for interference with commerce by robbery.  He was also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release for each count. The sentences are to be served concurrently.

The FBI, ATF and the Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Mickel prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. –A Church Point woman pleaded guilty to stealing more than $197,000 from her employer over a five-year period, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Michelle Dana Lavergne, 36, of Church Point, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard Haik for three counts of making and possessing a forged security, as part of a larger fraudulent scheme. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, from April 1, 2008 to April 30, 2013 Lavergne used her position at a Lafayette law firm to embezzle funds by writing checks to herself and another employee in various amounts ranging from $350 to $5,500. The checks totaled $197,371.53 over a five-year period. She worked at the law firm for 13 years as a financial secretary and paralegal. Lavergne had access to the business checks because of her position. She obtained pre-signed checks to pay bills or she forged the signature, so she could deposit the checks into her personal account.

Lavergne faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, forfeiture, and a $250,000 fine for each count.

The U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Myers P. Namie is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – The owner and operator of a Shreveport intensive outpatient program company pleaded guilty to charging Medicare for services never rendered, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Sharon Monroe, 43, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to one count of health care fraud and one count of wire fraud. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Monroe, owner of Monroe Medical Management LLC, submitted approximately $6 million in claims to Medicare for Part B psychotherapy services from 2007 to 2011. As a result of the fraudulent claims, she improperly received $2 million in payments from Medicare. Monroe filed claims for psychotherapy services that were never performed. She also used physicians’ Medicare provider numbers to submit claims without the physicians’ knowledge. In some cases, she claimed her employees rendered services in excess of 24 hours a day, that some of her employees were qualified to perform services when they were not, and that some of the services were performed at medical offices when they were not.

Monroe faces up to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for the health care fraud count, and up to 20 years in prison and five years of supervised release for the wire fraud count. She also faces a $250,000 fine and restitution for both counts. A sentencing date of January 8, 2015 was set.

The FBI and Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. –A man from Missouri was sentenced Wednesday to 30 months in prison and five years of supervised release for moving to Shreveport without updating his sex offender registration, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced.

John Mark Phillips, 50, of Springfield, Mo., was sentenced to the 30-month prison term by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. for one count of failing to update his sex offender registration. Hicks also revoked Phillips’ supervised release for a previous offense, which added 24 months to Phillips’ prison term for a total of 54 months. According to evidence presented at the May 19, 2014 guilty plea, Phillips was convicted in Christian County Missouri on September 22, 1995, for sexual abuse of a victim under the age of 14, which requires 25 years of sex offender registration.  In 2006, he updated his sex offender registration to reflect a move to Wisconsin. In May of 2011, he failed to report that he had moved back to Missouri. In August of 2011, he pleaded guilty to failure to register as a sex offender in the Western District of Missouri. He was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison and five years of supervised release.  After the prison term ended, U.S. Probation Officers discovered on April 30, 2013, that Phillips had left his Springfield, Mo., housing complex. Probation officers were unable to locate him and issued a warrant for his arrest. Shreveport Police arrested Phillips the same day the warrant was issued.

The U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Office of Probation - Western District of Missouri, and the Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. –A federal grand jury indicted a Lafayette man Wednesday for not listing more than $350,000 on an income tax return, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced.

Donald Domingues, 56, of Lafayette, was charged by a federal grand jury with one count of tax evasion and one count of making a false tax return. According to the indictment, when Domingues filed his U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040 for calendar year 2007, he reported $259,725 as income and paid $64,909 in taxes. Domingues is accused of intentionally leaving out a $351,000 sales commission, which would have made his correct gross income $610,725 and his payment to the IRS 185,959.

If convicted, Domingues faces five years in prison and three years of supervised release for tax evasion, and he faces three years in prison and one year of supervised release for making a false statement in a tax return.  He also faces up to a $100,000 fine and restitution.

The IRS investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard C. Parker 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.

LAFAYETTE, La. –An Opelousas man was sentenced last week to 23 months in prison and five years of supervised release for taking part in an international scheme to defraud banks and victims across the country, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Nelson Durald, 49, of Opelousas, La., was also ordered Thursday by U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik to pay restitution to identifiable victims and amounts of loss in conjunction with the conviction for one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. According to evidence presented at the March 26, 2014, guilty plea, Durald participated in a scheme from the end of 2011 to June 2013 to defraud banks and other financial institutions by cashing and asking other victims to cash fake monetary instruments such as checks and money orders that were shipped to Durald from other countries. Durald and other co-conspirators, some located within the United States and others in foreign countries, worked together to recruit victims to participate in a “Secret Shopper” program. Durald would mail fake monetary instruments to victim participants and ask them to cash the negotiable instruments at their bank or other financial institution as part of a seemingly legitimate Secret Shopper Program. The victim participant was instructed to send a portion of the cash obtained on the counterfeit instrument to another co-conspirator. Victims did this not knowing the monetary instruments they were attempting to cash were fake, which resulted in a loss to the victim participants and banks. At the time of Durald’s arrest, 316 counterfeit monetary instruments had been seized.  The total amount of all counterfeit financial instruments was $247,829.15. 

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Myers P. Namie prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – A former Barksdale airman was sentenced to 72 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release for downloading more than 9,000 files of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Isaac Boger, 22, of Auburn, Ind., was also ordered by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to pay $2,000 for one count of receiving child pornography. According to evidence presented at the March 11, 2014 guilty plea, law enforcement agents detected multiple files containing child pornography being downloaded at a residence on Barksdale Air Force Base.  Boger’s residence and computer were searched on January 10, 2013, and more than 9,000 files of child pornography were found on his computer.  Boger was an active duty member of the U.S. Air Force when arrested.

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Louisiana State Police, and Bossier City Marshals Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case. 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 marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations/Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) encourage the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) DHS-2ICE.  Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls.  Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp. Tips may be reported anonymously.

SHREVEPORT, La. –A Sabine Parish man pleaded guilty Monday to distributing methamphetamine in the Many area, U.S.Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced.

Jamal Holland, 28, of Many, La., entered a guilty plea for one count of distribution of methamphetamine before U.S. District Court Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr.  According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, law enforcement conducted controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Holland on September 18, 2013 and October 3, 2013. On both occasions, Holland was recorded selling 27 grams of methamphetamine.

Holland faces up to 20 years in prison, at least four years supervised release, and a $1 million fine. A sentencing date of January 8, 2015 was set.

The DEA and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown is prosecuting the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a federal jury in Alexandria found a Las Vegas man guilty of kidnapping and murdering a 12-year-old girl.

Thomas Sanders, 57, of Las Vegas, was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of kidnapping resulting in death and one count of use of a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death.  United States District Judge Dee D. Drell presided over the guilt phase of the trial, which started September 3rd and ended September 8th with closing arguments.  The jury returned a guilty verdict after deliberating for about an hour.

The case will now move to the penalty phase of the trial, during which the same jury will decide whether Sanders should be put to death or serve a mandatory sentence of life without parole in federal prison. The penalty phase is scheduled to start Tuesday, September 16, 2014.

The FBI, Central Louisiana Safe Streets Task Force, Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Yavapai County Arizona Sheriff’s Office, Coconino County Arizona Sheriff’s Office, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Flanagan, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown and Trial Attorney Julie Mosley of the Justice Department Criminal Division’s Capital Case Section are prosecuting the case.

 

MONROE, La. –A Quitman man pleaded guilty to producing child pornography, U.S.Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Christopher Nixon, 22, of Quitman, La., entered a conditional guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Hayes for one count of production of child pornography. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Court Judge Robert G. James. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, between February 1, 2012 and March 30, 2012, Nixon produced child pornography using a male under the age of 18.  Canadian law enforcement discovered the videos during an unrelated investigation in May of 2013.  The videos depicted sex acts between Nixon and an underage male.

Nixon faces 15 to 30 years in prison, up to life of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.  He also faces forfeiture of the equipment used to produce and store the child pornography.  A sentencing date of January 5, 2015 was set.

“This office will continue in its prosecution of anyone who creates, distributes and possesses child pornography,” Finley stated.  “Sexual abuse is a growing problem around the world, and it has devastating consequences for the victimized children.  Child pornography is also a growing problem. These children suffer physical and mental abuse as these images continue to circulate worldwide across the internet for many years long after they were victims of the initial horrific acts. With this guilty plea, we have stopped the flow of this material from one producer at the source.  I would like to thank all who are involved and dedicated to halting the production of child pornography in this district.”

“This case shows anyone who produces child pornography can and will be held accountable for their criminal actions regardless of where in the world the investigation leads or how much time has passed,” said Raymond R. Parmer Jr., special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations-New Orleans.  “Sexual abuse scars children for life, and HSI will continue to use all the tools in its arsenal, to include the HSI Operation Predator smartphone app that helped identify and locate Mr. Nixon in this case, to identify the perpetrators of these horrendous acts and seek justice on behalf of their victims.”

Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana State Police, and the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell is prosecuting the case.

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 marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations/Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) DHS-2ICE.  Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls.  Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.

MONROE, La. –A West Monroe man was sentenced to 90 months in prison and three years of supervised release for drug trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Kerry D. Gayfield, 30, of West Monroe, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert G. James for one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and one count of possession of a firearm in relation to drug trafficking. According to evidence presented at the June 10, 2014 guilty plea, West Monroe police searched a home on January 10, 2013, and discovered Gayfield standing behind a bar in the living room with a digital scale in front of him and a bag of marijuana in his hand. Officers also found a Smith and Wesson, .38 Special revolver loaded with five rounds on him. After conducting a search of the premises, officers found a total of 43.5 grams of marijuana (most packaged for street level sale), scales, marijuana cigars, pipes, $469, a bottle of liquid hydrocodone in someone else’s name, two hydrocodone pills, cocaine, an envelope with handwritten notes indicating drug sales and weight to money ratios, and a second firearm, a Jennings Model J22, .22 caliber pistol loaded with six rounds.

Gayfield has been convicted of five felonies in the Fifth Judicial District Court in West Carroll Parish. He was convicted of simple burglary and forgery in June of 2003, simple burglary and unauthorized use of motor vehicle in January of 2004, and illegal possession of stolen things in April of 2008.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a Department of Justice initiative designed to reduce firearm crimes by removing dangerous and persistent felons from the community and promote firearm safety. The PSN attorneys prosecute a variety of federal firearms violations listed in Titles 18 and 26 of the U.S. Code, including illegal possession of firearms and commission of crimes with firearms.

The West Monroe Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Gillespie Jr. prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La.–United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley, along with two other guest speakers, spoke today at a program celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act and the Criminal Justice Act.  The event was hosted by the Lafayette-Acadiana Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and was held at the John M. Shaw Federal Courthouse. 

United States Attorney Finley was one of the speakers; she recounted the history of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act from the end of the Civil War to the present.  Finley said that even though great strides have taken place in the last 50 years, she asked those present to remain vigilant in the defense of civil and voting rights.  She emphasized the brutality, challenges and struggles that our nation faced as it tried to implement both Acts.  Finley thanked the attorneys present and other public servants present for their past and current work in protecting the rights of all Americans, adding that everyone has the right to be treated equally and fairly.  She said the U.S. Department of Justice is committed to protecting the public’s rights hard won by those during the era of the mid-1960s.

Freddie Pitcher Jr., Chancellor of Southern University Law Center and a retired 19th Judicial District Court and First Circuit Court of Appeal Judge, recounted the events close to the passage of the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act.  He urged students to study the history of the Acts, and asked them to understand how the Acts and other legislation have changed the country and provided every student with “the ability to become what you want to be.”

The last speaker was G. Paul Marx, 15th Judicial District Court of Louisiana District Public Defender Supervisor, who spoke about the importance of the Criminal Justice Act and having a strong public defender’s office. He recounted some history of the public defender’s office, and said that a strong public defender’s office helps ensures that the rights of the people remain protected.

The Northside High School Mock Trial Team reenacted portions of the Brown v. Board of Education trial of 1954 at the conclusion of the event.  They took on the roles of the witnesses and attorneys in the case, and recited selected portions of the trial transcripts.  Northside High School teacher, Liz Tullier, advises the Mock Trial Team.

“We’ve come a long way, but there’s a long way to go in the way of true civil rights,” said Elwood Stevens, current president of the Acadiana Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.  “It was a very powerful program, and I’m pleased to be a part of it. We owe a debt of gratitude to all of our speakers:  Judge Pitcher, U.S. Attorney Finley, Paul Marks and the Northside High School Mock Trial Team.”

The Civil Rights Act was signed into law on July 2, 1964, by President Lyndon B. Johnson, and ended legal segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.  It also blazed a trail for subsequent related legislation: the Voting Right Act, the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Fulfilling the promise of Brown vs. Board of Education, the Act authorized the Department of Education to assist with school desegregation and permits the U.S. Attorney General to file lawsuits to desegregate schools.  Additionally, the Act prohibits the unequal application of voting requirements, established the Community Relations Service, and gives enhanced authority to the Commission of Civil Rights.

In the years since the Civil and Voting Rights Act was signed, the goal to attain their intended implementation is ongoing.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office played and continues to play a pivotal role in the administration and enforcement of civil rights.  Along with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has jurisdiction to bring cases under the Civil Rights Act and other related federal statutes.

Finley is the first female U.S. Attorney to serve in Louisiana.  She was selected by President Barack Obama in January of 2010, after being recommended by U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in June of 2010.  United States Attorney Finley was sworn into office on June 2, 2010 to serve the Western District of Louisiana as the chief law enforcement officer for 42 of the state’s 64 parishes.

“It is always an honor to be asked to participate in a celebration of the Civil Rights Act and the Criminal Justice Act,” Finley stated.  “We take time whenever we can to remember the struggles of those who fought for the passage of these Acts.  There is not enough we could ever say or do that can repay those who suffered and struggled for the freedoms that we now enjoy, whether they were on the front line, or the bench, or parents who were teaching children to treat all people fairly.”

The board members for the Lafayette-Acadiana Chapter of the Federal Bar Association are:  Doug Truxillo, President Emeritus, Elwood C. Stevens, President, Gary J. Russo, Immediate Past President, Kenneth W. DeJean, President Elect, Joel Babineaux, Treasurer, Jerome Moroux, Membership Chairman, Honorable Mildred E. Methvin, Honorable Robert Summerhays, Heather Edwards, Jaclyn Bridges-Bacon, Nadia de la Houssaye, and John P. Roy.

 

More than $92,000 in refunds illegally received

MONROE, La. – A Bastrop tax preparer was sentenced to 30 months in prison and one year of supervised release for filing income tax returns containing false information, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Camille Cooper, 40, of Bastrop, La., was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Robert G. James to pay $92,530 in restitution to the IRS for one count of aiding and assisting in making and subscribing a false return. According to evidence presented at the May 28, 2014 guilty plea, Cooper was a tax preparer at Faster Tax Refund Express in Bastrop from December 2010 to April 2011. She filed 17 fraudulent 1040 forms.  Sixteen returns contained a falsified Schedule F (profit and loss from farming) and a falsified Form 4136 (federal tax credit for tax paid on fuels).  Five contained a falsified Schedule C (profit and loss from business).  Because of the fraudulent forms, the IRS issued $92,530 to customers to which they were not entitled.  Also as part of the scheme, the defendant received approximately $2,275 in kickbacks from customers.  These payments were in addition to the fees the company charged

The IRS conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – Stephanie Finley, the United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, confirmed today that a federal investigation is ongoing into the death of 23-year-old Victor White III, who died in March while in the custody of the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office. The coroner subsequently determined that Mr. White’s death was a suicide, but Mr. White’s family has disputed that conclusion. The United States Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and the Criminal Section of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division are responsible for investigating allegations of civil rights violations by officials acting under color of law, and for determining whether the evidence demonstrates that a civil rights violation occurred and that it was willful.  U.S. Attorney Finley stated that a federal representative has reached out to the White family to assure them that the Department of Justice will follow where the evidence leads and will take appropriate action based on that evidence.

“This tragic incident deserves a full review of the evidence; our objective is to discover the truth,” Ms. Finley stated.  “The FBI has been working parallel with the current investigation.  Our review will take time to complete.  FBI agents, along with attorneys from my office and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, will carefully review the results of the current investigation by the Louisiana State Police, will determine what additional investigation, if any, is necessary to determine who fired the fatal shot, and whether the evidence demonstrates a willful civil rights violation.  The federal investigation will supplement, rather than supplant, the investigation by state authorities.  Once the investigation is complete, we will carefully review the results to decide if any prosecutable violations of federal criminal civil rights statutes occurred.”

 

LAFAYETTE, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announces that a federal jury earlier today found Lafayette attorney Daniel James Stanford, 56, guilty of conspiring to distribute synthetic drugs, conspiring to introduce misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, and money laundering charges.

After an eight-day trial, over six hours of deliberation, hundreds of pages of exhibits, and testimony from 30 plus witnesses, the jury found Stanford guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance analogue, one count of conspiracy to introduce or cause to be introduced misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, one count of conspiracy to launder money, and 5 counts of money laundering.  Stanford was found not guilty on 5 counts of the indictment, which outlined additional money laundering charges.  U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote presided over the trial.

In September of 2012, Stanford, Curious Goods, a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), and eight co-conspirators, Alexander Derrick Reece, 40 of Gainesville, Fla.; Drew T. Green, 38 of Roswell, Ga.; Thomas William Malone, Jr., 45 of Roswell, Ga.; Boyd Anthony Barrow, 43 of Canton, Ga.; Joshua Espinoza, 49 of Marietta, Ga.; Richard Joseph Buswell, 44 of Lafayette, La.; Daniel Paul Francis, 42 of Dawsonville, Ga.; and Barry L. Domingue, 52 of Carencro, La., were charged by a grand jury in a 16 count indictment with conspiracy to distribute synthetic drugs, conspiracy to introduce misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and various money laundering charges.

At the time of the indictment, Curious Goods, LLC, was a business based in Lafayette and controlled by co-conspirator Richard Buswell.  Buswell has since pleaded guilty to other federal charges involving an investor fraud scheme. During the trial, evidence showed that Curious Goods stores sold a product called AMr. Miyagi@ that was infused with synthetic cannabinoids.  Although mislabeled as a potpourri, AMr. Miyagi@ was sold to be smoked for the sole purpose of getting the consumer of the product Ahigh.@  The synthetic cannabinoids infused into AMr. Miyagi@ are considered Schedule I controlled dangerous substances under federal law, but were marketed by Stanford and his co-conspirators as every day potpourri. Witnesses testified that on March 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011, Curious Goods stores throughout Acadiana raked in approximately $5 million for the sale of the illegal AMr. Miyagi@ product and paid the supplier of “Mr. Miyagi”, Pinnacle Products, approximately $1.5 million.

Testimony at trial identified Pinnacle Products LLC/Pinnacle Products Group, based in Marietta, Ga., as the manufacturer of the AMr. Miyagi@ products being sold in Acadiana. They supplied the products to local Curious Goods stores.  Pinnacle Products LLC was controlled and operated by Stanford’s co-conspirators, Boyd Anthony Barrow and Joshua Espinoza.  Pinnacle obtained the synthetic cannabinoids utilized to manufacture AMr. Miyagi@ from NutraGenomics, which was located in an Alpahretta, Georgia and controlled by co-conspirators, Drew T. Green and Thomas William Malone, Jr.  NutraGenomics distributed synthetic cannabinoids throughout the United States. The majority of the synthetic cannabinoids distributed by NutraGenomics were supplied by another one of Stanford’s co-conspirators, Alexander Derrick Reece. 

Prior to trial, Stanford’s co-conspirators, Reece, Green, Malone, Barrow, Espinoza, Buswell, and Francis all pleaded guilty in federal court, but appeared in federal court as witnesses for the government in this trial.  Stanford, who is a criminal defense attorney, decided to represent himself at trial.  During opening statements, after the government laid out how they expected the evidence to reveal Stanford’s knowing involvement in the drug conspiracy, Stanford told the jury that his “integrity and honor” were “not negotiable,” and he advised the jury that he was “absolutely not guilty of any of this.”  However, at trial, the evidence showed that Stanford was actively involved with the Curious Goods enterprise, that he was well aware that the company sold a product called “Mr. Miyagi,” and that “Mr. Miyagi” was a substance that was infused with synthetic cannabinoids.  

Exhibits introduced at trial exposed that “Mr. Miyagi” was specifically labelled “not for human consumption” and sold as a product that would be smoked by users to get high.  The evidence also demonstrated that the product was packaged to be intentionally false and misleading, marketed as potpourri.  The exterior package label of “Mr. Miyagi” stated that it was to be used to refresh scent in drawers, closets, and cars; all of which Stanford knew to be false.  It listed its ingredients as “exotic blend of Herbs, Plants and Botanicals.” The package also advised purchasers that “[a]s of this printing, this product complies with all U.S. federal laws;” another statement which Stanford also knew to be false.  During the trial, prosecutors showed jurors just how misleading the labeling was by opening a packet of the so-called scent refresher which resembled marijuana.  Testimony at trial made it clear that Stanford knew that the product was being consumed by humans, that it was harmful and not a scent refresher, and that the product was marketed to youthful customers.  The intentional mislabeling and misbranding, spearheaded by Stanford, were part of a legal strategy and subterfuge to feign compliance with the law, to avoid law enforcement detection, and to avoid civil and criminal liability.  

Testimony at trial outlined that as the conspiracy progressed, individuals were recruited to purchase Curious Goods franchises. Then as the business grew and franchise stores opened, the Curious Goods organization brought in Stanford, and Stanford in turn recruited co-conspirator Dan Francis.  Francis’ role was to assist Stanford in forming Louisiana’s version of the Retail Compliance Association (RCA), a company that was formed as a non-profit, but utilized for the sole purpose of advising smoke shops and other retail outlets how to strategically sell and market synthetic drugs as common, every day, over the counter products.  Stanford named himself as Director of RCA and was advised by Dan Francis who was experienced in the synthetic cannabinoid industry. 

Emails introduced at trial showed that Stanford wanted Louisiana’s RCA to facilitate the conspiracy.  At trial, witnesses testified that franchise owners were forced to join the Louisiana RCA.  Evidence showed that for his efforts, Stanford was to collect between $1,000 and $5,000 weekly from each Curious Goods franchise store based on the volume of sales from the stores, in addition to collecting $6,250 each from the Curious Goods companies and Pinnacle Products, a total of $12,500 per week.  Witnesses testified that Stanford, through RCA, stood to be paid approximately $40,000 – $50,000 per week from all of these sources. 

In order to maintain the supply of “Mr. Miyagi” from Georgia and to convince prospective franchisees to sell Mr. Miyagi, Stanford and Richard Buswell convinced Pinnacle Products and franchisees that they, Stanford and Buswell, had obtained a letter from the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office permitting the sale of “Mr. Miyagi” in the state of Louisiana for two years, which Stanford knew to be untrue and knew that no such letter existed.  At trial, the government played recordings of Stanford advising franchise owners that he met with Louisiana’s Attorney General.  Stanford was trying to convince disgruntled franchisees to continue working, selling and receiving products from Pinnacle, despite what seemed to be clear law enforcement action indicating that the product they were selling was illegal. 

At trial, Kurt Wall, the Director of the Criminal Division of the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office testified that the alleged letter never existed, and no one from the Attorney General’s Office had ever spoken to Stanford regarding any synthetic drugs.  In addition, Louisiana Attorney General, James D. “Buddy” Caldwell, was called as a witness and testified that neither he nor anyone in his office would make assurances that could lead to the introduction of synthetic drugs into Louisiana.

During the course of the conspiracy, some of the co-conspirators confronted Stanford about the existence of the so called Attorney General letter.  Witnesses stated under oath that after being confronted, Stanford admitted that he did not have a letter, but was a close personal friend of the State Attorney General, and the two had a hand shake agreement about the synthetics.  After the confrontation, Stanford shifted his story and explained that Caldwell assured him that no one would be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office for dealing in the substance.  However, Louisiana Attorney General Caldwell testified to jurors that he did not know Stanford, and during closing arguments, Stanford conceded that he did not meet with Caldwell on the synthetic cannabinoids. 

Among the many witnesses testifying at trial, were local law enforcement and DEA Task Force agents who testified that during the execution of search warrants, on December 8, 2011, they searched all Curious Goods store locations, including the company’s warehouse in Lafayette and seized approximately 190 pounds of synthetic drugs. 

Stanford faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $2 million for his role in the drug conspiracy.  For the charges relating to the conspiracy to misbrand, he faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.  The money laundering conspiracy and each count of money laundering carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.  A sentencing date for Stanford has not been set.  Stanford’s co-conspirators are set to be sentenced on September 19, 2014.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, Lafayette Police Department, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Vermillion Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisiana State Police conducted this investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Luke Walker, J. Collin Sims, and Robert C. Abendroth are prosecuted the case.

U. S. Attorney Finley stated, “This case is a huge victory for the Acadian area.  Too many members of our community visited these shops that sold this poison, especially the youth.  Stanford’s insatiable desire for money drove him to join this conspiracy and put many, many people in harm’s way.  Today his greed and criminal activity have consequences.  This case highlights how lucrative this industry is and reveals the length that criminals are willing to go to profit while endangering the health and safety of citizens.  Stanford’s goal was to hide behind what he wanted the world to believe was a legitimate company, but his scheme failed because of the dedicated men and women of federal, state and local law enforcement who are committed to the safety of this community.  They are to be commended for years of hard work to get these illegal substances off the street and hold these criminals accountable.  I hope that store owners, franchisees, investors and distributers who want a make a fast buck at the expense of others think twice and understand that we will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute their criminal activity.”

LAFAYETTE, La. –After a three-day trial, a federal jury found a Ville Platte man guilty of taking part in an armed robbery in which more than $11,000 was taken from a truck stop store and casino in St. Landry Parish, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced.

The trial started on Monday and ended Wednesday for Arinskie Tryvon Orlandeze Jones, 24, of Ville Platte, La.  United States District Judge Richard T. Haik presided over the trial. The jury deliberated for more than four hours before finding Jones guilty of one count of interference with commerce by robbery. Jones faces up to 20 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

Jones, and two other Ville Platte men, Ronald James Doomes, 26, and Steven Dudley Nelson, 25, were indicted on October 24, 2012, on charges that they took part in an armed robbery on April 8, 2011, at the Tiger Trax Truckstop #7 and Video Joker II Casino located in St. Landry Parish.

Previously, Doomes was found guilty of one count of armed robbery and one count of use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence after a federal trial ending on August 1, 2014. Doomes’ sentencing date is November 15, 2014. Nelson pleaded guilty to those same charges on October 28, 2013.  His sentencing is set for September 19, 2014. Doomes and Nelson face prison terms of seven years to life. All three defendants also face up to $250,000 in fines.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a Department of Justice initiative designed to reduce firearm crimes by removing dangerous and persistent felons from the community and promote firearm safety. The PSN attorneys prosecute a variety of federal firearms violations listed in Titles 18 and 26 of the U.S. Code, including illegal possession of firearms and commission of crimes with firearms.

The FBI, ATF and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph T. Mickel and David C. Joseph prosecuted the case.

MONROE, La. –A Minnesota professor pleaded guilty to contacting a minor in Union Parish in order to start a sexual relationship, U.S.Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Woody Dale Branton, 63, of Minneapolis, Minn., entered a conditional guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Hayes for one count of enticing a minor into criminal sexual activity. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Court Judge Robert G. James. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Branton, a professor at the University of Minnesota, and a 15-year-old girl exchanged thousands of messages on Facebook from October 2013 through December 1, 2013. Many of the messages were sexual in nature, and he also asked her to send explicit pictures of herself. From November 29, 2013 to December 1, 2013, Branton attempted to set up a meeting with the girl in Louisiana and purchased a plane ticket to Shreveport.

Branton faces 10 years to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. He must also register as a sex offender. A sentencing date of January 5, 2015 was set.

The FBI and the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg is prosecuting the case.

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 marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Those concerned may also leave tips with the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Tips may be submitted anonymously.  The Monroe FBI office number is (318) 387-0773.

SHREVEPORT, La. –A U.S. Postal Service mail carrier from Shreveport pleaded guilty to stealing Netflix DVDs and money, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Frankey Savannah, 30, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to one count of theft of mail matter. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Netflix contacted the U.S. Postal Service about DVD movie losses occurring from July 2013 to October 2013 along a Bossier Parish route. Upon further investigation, law enforcement agents discovered that Savannah, a postal carrier, had been taking the DVDs from the envelopes while conducting his mail carrier route rather than returning them to Netflix as the customers intended. He is responsible for taking a total of 69 DVDs. Savannah was also observed taking cash from some of the mail.

Savannah faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and restitution.  A sentencing date of December 10, 2014 was set.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Cytheria D. Jernigan is prosecuting the case.

LAKE CHARLES, La. –A Houston man pleaded guilty to charges that he used counterfeit credit cards and other financial access devices to steal thousands of dollars from Louisiana casinos, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Derick Demon Caples, 31, of Houston, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi for one count of use of counterfeit access devices. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Caples used counterfeit credit cards and other access devices starting in November 11, 2012 to secure cash advances totaling $14,505.05 at Louisiana casinos such as the Isle of Capri, L’Auberge, Horseshoe, El Dorado, and Harrah’s Louisiana Downs. These access devices included Green Dot Visa cards, 123 Rewards cards, Chase cards, Wells Fargo cards, and Bank of America cards, among others. He presented false identifications with the credit cards to secure the cash advances.

Caples faces up to 10 years in prison, three years supervised release, a $250,000 fine and restitution. A sentencing date of November 20, 2014 was set.

The U.S. Secret Service investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard C. Parker is prosecuting the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. –A correctional officer at the U.S. Penitentiary in Pollock, La., along with a relative of an inmate, were charged with conspiring to introduce a cell phone into the prison, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced.

Maggie Kay Comeaux, 28, of Ball, La., and Paris Smith, 21, of Detroit, Mich., were indicted for the conspiracy by a federal grand jury and arraigned Wednesday, August 20, 2014, in federal court for one count of conspiracy, one count of bribing a public official, one count of receiving a bribe by a public official, and one count of providing contraband to a prisoner.  According to the indictment, from January 2013 to April 2013, Comeaux accepted a $400 bribe from Smith and two other unnamed conspirators to smuggle a cell phone into the prison.

If convicted, they face a maximum of five years in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy; 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release for bribing a public official; 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release for receiving a bribe by a public official; and one year in prison and one year of supervised release for providing contraband to a prisoner.  They also face up to a $250,000 fine.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison D. Bushnell 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.

MONROE, La. –Three Monroe grocery store workers pleaded guilty this week for their roles in a scheme to exchange SNAP and WIC benefits to customers for cash and ineligible items, U.S.Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Angela Woods, 27, of Monroe, pleaded guilty today to one count of criminal conspiracy before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Hayes. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Court Judge Robert G. James. Willie Mae Woods-Jackson, 42, of Dallas, pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy Monday, and Kimberlia Harris, 45, of Monroe, pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy Tuesday. In a related matter, Juanita Woods, 36, of Monroe, pleaded guilty on July 24, 2014 to one count of theft of government property.  According to evidence presented at the guilty pleas, the defendants conspired to provide customers cash and ineligible items for their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and Women Infant and Children (WIC) program benefits from August 2008 to early 2014 at Dee’s Grocery Store in Monroe where Harris was the owner, Angela Woods was a manager and cashier, Woods-Jackson was a cashier, and Juanita Woods was a cashier. During the time the scheme took place, they acquired approximately $7 million.

Harris, Angela Woods and Woods-Jackson face up to five years in prison for the conspiracy count. Juanita Woods faces up to 10 years in prison for theft of government money count. They all face up to three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date of December 8, 2014 was set for Harris, Angela Woods and Jackson-Woods. Sentencing date for Juanita Woods is November 4, 2014.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell is prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La.–United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley was the keynote speaker at the Volunteer Instructors Teaching Adults (VITA) awards luncheon held today at the Petroleum Club. 

“I am honored that VITA invited me to speak at the luncheon celebrating the achievements of their students and tutors,” Finley said.  “The work that VITA does to promote literacy in Acadiana by teaching reading and writing skills to adults is remarkable.  The investment that tutors make in the lives of their students gives them a solid foundation to excel in every aspect of their lives.  If you help people develop a passion for learning, they will never cease to grow.  VITA volunteers, not only improve the education of those participating, but the quality of the communities where we live.”

Finley told the tutors present that they play a vital role in educating the adult population.  The situation for those who cannot read and write is difficult.  She talked about the difficulty for those who lack these skills and how challenging it is for them to improve their lives and the lives of their loved ones. Finley has seen firsthand the difficulties of those who cannot read or write. Many of them navigate their way through the justice system, and added that 63 percent of inmates cannot read.  Finley thanked the tutors present for volunteering and urged them to press on to help more students because their work makes a difference.  She also encouraged the students present to continue their education in order to achieve their fullest potential and fulfill their hopes and dreams.

The organization recognized two tutors and a student who have made remarkable achievements in the past year with awards.  They honored VITA tutors, Wendee Herold with the Martin Award and Phyllis Ledet with the 2014 Donna Groth Delhomme Memorial Award.  McKinley Milligan, a student with VITA, was presented with the 2014 Don Littlefield Memorial Award.  Milligan was injured years ago, but through the help of family, friends, therapy and the VITA program, he has obtained his high school equivalency degree.

The VITA organization matches tutors to students for two-hour sessions twice a week to help those who need help with English reading skills.  The organization tutors adult students who are no longer in school and English as a Second Language (ESL) students.  VITA is always seeking tutors and students.  To find out more, call 337-234-4600 or visit http://vitalaf.org/

Volunteer Instructors Teaching Adults Inc. was incorporated in May 1982 as a non-profit, community-based adult literacy program and was organized through the collaborative efforts of members of the Lafayette Parish School Board, RSVP, Altrusa Club, Lafayette Public Library, and community leaders in the fields of business and education.  VITA is a member of ProLiteracy America, the nation’s largest volunteer literacy organization.  Programs and services are financed by funds from the United Way, Lafayette Parish School System, Louisiana Department of Education, foundation grants, private donations and fundraising events.

Finley is the first female U.S. Attorney to serve in Louisiana.  She was selected by President Barack Obama in January of 2010, after being recommended by U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in June of 2010.  United States Attorney Finley was sworn into office on June 2, 2010 to serve the Western District of Louisiana as the chief law enforcement officer for 42 of the state’s 64 parishes.  In addition to her duties as the U.S. Attorney, Finley is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, and currently serves as Vice Chair of Attorney General Eric Holder’s Advisory Committee’s Office of Management and Budget Committee.

MONROE, La. –A Ruston man pleaded guilty to bringing methamphetamine into Louisiana for sale, U.S.Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Gale Allen Schoonover, 54, of Ruston, La., entered a conditional guilty plea for one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Hayes.  The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Court Judge Robert G. James.  According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Schoonover was arrested on March 14, 2014 after returning from Dallas, where he had obtained methamphetamine that he intended to sell in Lincoln Parish.  Law enforcement agents received information that the defendant was transporting methamphetamine for sale and monitored his whereabouts until the arrest.  Schoonover possessed a total of 105.62 grams of pure methamphetamine as well as 1.735 kilograms of marijuana.

Schoonover faces up to 20 years in prison, three years supervised release, and a $1 million fine. A sentencing date of December 11, 2014 was set.

The DEA and the Lincoln Parish Narcotics Enforcement Team conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison D. Bushnell is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – A Shreveport man was sentenced to 87 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for receiving child pornography on his home computer, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Kelvin McCallister, 45, of Shreveport, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. for one count of receiving child pornography. According to evidence presented at the April 14, 2014 guilty plea, law enforcement detected a computer accessing child pornography online.  The signal was traced to a computer in Shreveport. McCallister’s home was searched on May 23, 2013 and various types of child pornography were found on a computer.

Homeland Security Investigations-ICE and the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown prosecuted the case. 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 marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations/Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) DHS-2ICE.  Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls. Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp. Tips may be submitted anonymously.

LAFAYETTE, La. –A federal grand jury indicted a Lafayette man for making a bomb threat and attempting to rob a bank, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Devin Haywood, 30, of Lafayette, was charged by a federal grand jury with one count of using a facility in interstate commerce to willfully make a threat or maliciously convey false information and one count of attempted bank robbery. According to the indictment, Haywood used a cell phone to make a bomb threat on July 16, 2014, in Lafayette and also attempted to rob a bank on Moss Street in Lafayette the same day.

If convicted, the defendant faces 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for the bomb threat charge. He faces 20 years in prison and five years of supervised release for the attempted bank robbery charge.  Both charges carry a fine of up to $250,000.

The FBI, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, Louisiana State Police, Lafayette Police Department, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Police Department investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker 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.

LAFAYETTE, La. –A Lafayette woman was sentenced to 29 months in prison and five years of supervised release for defrauding more than half a million dollars from Waste Auditors Inc., the Lafayette company where she worked, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Bunnie Morris, 61, of Lafayette, was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to pay $337,049 of restitution. According to evidence presented at the February 20, 2014 guilty plea, Morris was employed as a financial accountant/bookkeeper for Waste Auditors Inc. from 2001 to 2009.  During that time, she forged signatures of corporate officials on numerous payroll, bonus, and expense account corporate checks processed through two banks totaling $579,050.  Not only did she forge checks and expense account information, she orchestrated unauthorized payments to herself in the form of pay raises and bonuses.  In order to disguise her actions, she listed in the company’s financial records that she had voided all fraudulent checks that she had cashed or deposited, when in fact she negotiated and received benefits from those checks. Morris was not an authorized signatory on any corporate checking account and was required to obtain signatures from supervisors before executing a transaction.

The U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard C. Parker prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. –A co-owner and five employees of the now closed Desperado’s Cabaret in Carencro, La., were sentenced for racketeering and drug sales that took place on the premises, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Dipak Vora, 70, of Baton Rouge, a former co-owner of Desperado’s, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to 10 months in prison, one year of supervised release and a $10,000 fine for one count of interstate and foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering. As part of the plea agreement, Vora agreed to forfeit approximately $514,000 of illegal proceeds and to forfeit the Desperado’s property.  At the sentencing hearing, the Court noted that Vora knew for an extended period of time that Desperado’s promoted prostitution between its employees and customers. 

Foote also sentenced Gerald Cormier, 44, of Carencro, to 29 months in prison and one year of supervised release on his conviction for distribution of cocaine.  Cormier brought cocaine into Desperado’s on a regular basis and redistributed the cocaine to employees and customers.

The following former Desperado’s employees were also sentenced for one count of conspiracy to maintain drug involved premises and distribution of controlled substances:

• Elias “E.J.” White, 53, of Lafayette, was sentenced to 54 months of probation;
• Heike Slattery, 42, of Carencro, was sentenced to two years of probation;
• Crystal Sampy, 32, of Lafayette, was sentenced to three years of probation and a $1,000 fine.
• Lydia “Unique” Gauthreaux, 32, of Crowley, was sentenced to three years of probation and a $1,000 fine.

Desperado’s primary business owner, James Panos, 56, of Broussard, La., was indicted on May 8, 2013 in a superseding indictment along with his wife Jennifer Panos, 48, and eight other defendants. The indictment alleges racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy, and firearms charges.  The charges are the result of an investigation of drug trafficking, drug distribution, prostitution, and other illegal activity that took place at Desperado’s Cabaret.

James and Jennifer Panos pleaded guilty on April 3, 2014, to a racketeering conspiracy, Count 1 of the Superseding Indictment.  Acquila Shanete Latigue, 28, of Lafayette, pleaded guilty on March 20, 2014; and Tanja Clavier, 29, of Church Point, La., pleaded guilty on May 29, 2014 to one count of conspiracy to maintain drug involved premises and distribution of controlled substances. James and Jennifer Panos, Clavier and Latigue are scheduled to be sentenced on November 14, 2014. The racketeering conspiracy charge carries penalties of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of not more than twice the gross profits.

The DEA, FBI, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Louisiana State Police and Lafayette Metro Narcotics investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Myers P. Namie is prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley and Law Enforcement Community Coordinator (LECC) Mike Campbell, joined City of Lafayette Police Chief Jim Craft, the Lafayette Fire Department, and community leaders on Tuesday, August 5th, for the 31st Annual National Night Out crime and drug prevention event.

The Annual National Night Out events hosted throughout Lafayette were between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.  The evening began at the Lafayette Consolidated Government building at 5:30 p.m. with the reading of a proclamation commemorating National Night Out.  From there, events were held at the Girard Park Pavilion and Martin Luther King Jr. Multi-purpose Center.  These events included music, entertainment, fun jumps, food, games and displays by the Lafayette Fire Department, the Lafayette Sheriff’s Office, and the Lafayette Police Department SWAT Team, horse patrol, motorcycle unit, bicycle patrol and the police command bus. National Night Out corporate sponsor representatives from ADT Security Systems attended the events along with members of the Lafayette Advisory Commission on Crime Prevention, neighborhood watch organizations and other groups.

National Night Out is an annual event that takes place on the first Tuesday in August.  It is the nation’s largest annual crime prevention event with more than 37 million people in more than 15,000 communities from all 50 states participating with their local law enforcement agencies.  It is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for participation in local anti-crime efforts, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships throughout the city, and send a strong message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

“National Night Out is a perfect opportunity for the community to join with law enforcement and other community partners to demonstrate that crime does not rule the night and that criminals have no safe haven here,” Finley stated. “It is great to see all of these residents come together in support of their neighborhoods.  The ‘Night Out’ is also a wonderful way to acknowledge the accomplishments of neighborhood organizations that keep communities safe and spread the important message that we are all in this together.  I want to thank Chief Craft and Sheriff Mike Neustrom for spearheading this event and inviting me.”

“National Night Out gives the citizens of our community the opportunity to get out and meet their neighbors and local police officers,” Craft said. “This effort is to remind citizens of the importance of being vigilant and alert in their everyday lives.”

As the district’s Law Enforcement Community Coordinator, Campbell acts as a liaison between the U.S. Attorney's Office and local, state, and federal law enforcement.  He assists with grants, coordinates and provides law enforcement training, and assists law enforcement agencies with special and community needs.  The mission of the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee is to develop coordination, communication, and cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies throughout the Western District of Louisiana by providing education, training, and technical assistance to all federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in the district.

Thousands of communities across the United States took part in National Night Out starting in August. To find out more about National Night Out visit the National Association for Town Watch at http://www.natw.org.

From left to right are: U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley, Lafayette Advisory Commission on Crime member Rhonda Lorio, Lafayette Police Chief James Craft, Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government President Joey Durel, and ADT representative Jason Clark. Durel is presenting a proclamation at a consolidated government meeting commemorating August 5, 2014 as National Night Out.

LAFAYETTE, La. –A man from Mexico pleaded guilty to charges that he falsely claimed to be an American citizen, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Luis Alberto Hernandez, 32, of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik to one count of false claim of U.S. citizenship. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, law enforcement agents learned that illegal aliens were returning to the Abbeville area from working on an offshore oil rig located 85 miles off the coast in the Gulf of Mexico. Upon being questioned on March 15, 2014, Hernandez said he was originally from Texas. He gave agents a false name, Social Security number, and Louisiana identification card. He later admitted his true name as well as being a citizen of Mexico.

Hernandez faces three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date was not set.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly P. Uebinger is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. –A Bossier Parish man pleaded guilty to illegally possessing multiple firearms, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Donald W. “Duck” Reyenga, 49, of Bossier City, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks to one count of possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a felony. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, members of the Bossier Combined Narcotics Task Force learned Reyenga was attempting to sell stolen firearms.  On April 17, 2014, agents scheduled a controlled purchase at a Bossier City hotel.  There Reyenga sold a Hi-Standard, model Double 9, .22 caliber revolver; a Savage model 93 .22LR caliber rifle; and ammunition. His sale of these stolen firearms was recorded and he was immediately arrested.  Agents later recovered another stolen rifle that Reyenga had sold that morning along with other items stolen from residences in Red River Parish.  During the guilty plea hearing, Reyenga admitted he was an Armed Career Offender. Reyenga has numerous previous felony convictions in Bossier and Caddo parishes including attempted manslaughter, burglary, attempted aggravated burglary, distribution of marijuana, possession of cocaine, and illegal possession of stolen things.

Reyenga faces 15 years to life in prison, a maximum of five years of supervised release and up to a $250,000 fine. Sentencing was set for December 15, 2014.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Bossier Combined Narcotics Task Force conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Gillespie Jr. is prosecuting the case as part the Department of Justice Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. This initiative is designed to reduce firearm crimes by using federal statutes to remove dangerous and persistent felons from the community.

MONROE, La. –A Texan pleaded guilty to his part in kidnapping an Arkansas man and lying to an FBI agent, U.S.Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Aldo Cantu, 20, of Lufkin, Texas, entered a conditional guilty plea to one count of kidnapping and one count of lying to an FBI Special Agent to U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Hayes. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Court Judge Robert G. James. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing, Cantu conspired with Anthony Segura, also of Lufkin, Texas, and others, to kidnap a man from his Pine Bluff, Ark., home at gunpoint on November 16, 2014. They drove the victim to a Lake Providence, La., service station and there the victim escaped. East Carroll Parish Sheriff’s deputies responded. The defendants later lied to FBI Special Agents saying they had not traveled to Arkansas that night and did not participate in the kidnapping. Anthony Segura pleaded guilty to kidnapping and lying to an FBI Special Agent on July 30, 2014.

Cantu and Segura face a maximum of life in prison and five years of supervised release for kidnapping, and a maximum of five years in prison and three years of supervised release for lying to an FBI Special Agent. They both also face a $250,000 fine. The defendants’ sentencing date is scheduled for November 4, 2014.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted this investigation with the assistance from the East Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Gillespie Jr. is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative designed to reduce firearm crimes by removing dangerous and persistent felons from the community and promote firearm safety.

MONROE, La. –A Florida man was sentenced to 51 months in prison and three years of supervised released for illegally possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Richard Dean Stephenson, 28, of Tampa, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert G. James for one count of possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a felony. According to evidence presented at the April 16, 2014 guilty plea, from September 1, 2013 to October 2, 2013, Stephenson possessed a Bryco .380 caliber pistol and ammunition after having previously been convicted of a felony. After learning that Stephenson may have a weapon, law enforcement officers found the gun and ammunition during a search at his Kilbourne, La., residence. Stephenson has numerous previous felony convictions in Florida including aggravated assault with deadly weapons and grand theft in 2006.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice initiative designed to reduce firearm crimes by removing dangerous and persistent felons from the community and promote firearm safety.

The Oak Grove Police Department, the West Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Gillespie Jr. prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. –A trial of two Ville Platte men ended with a jury finding one man guilty and a verdict deadlocked for the second man on charges stemming from a robbery of more than $11,000 from a truck stop and a casino in St. Landry Parish, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced.

The trial started on Monday for Ronald James Doomes, 25, and Arinkis Tryvon Orlandeze Jones, 24, both of Ville Platte, La.  Both were charged with one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  After a four-day trial, on Thursday, the jury delivered guilty verdicts on both counts against Doomes.  The jury deliberated for over five hours.  Deliberations on the charges against Jones continued until late Friday morning when they sent a note to the judge declaring they could not reach a unanimous verdict on either count.  U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote declared a mistrial on Friday as to defendant Jones.  Defendant Jones is scheduled for re-trial on August 25, 2014.

Doomes, Jones and Steven Dudley Nelson, 25, also of Ville Platte, were indicted in a superceding indictment on October 24, 2012, on charges that they took part in an armed robbery on April 8, 2011, at the Tiger Trax Truckstop #7 and Video Joker II Casino located in St. Landry Parish.  Nelson pleaded guilty on October 28, 2013, to interference with commerce by robbery and use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  The sentencing date for Nelson is currently for August 7, 2014.

Doomes faces 20 years in prison for interference with commerce by robbery and seven years to life in prison for use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  He also faces up to five years of supervised release, restitution, forfeiture of the guns used and a $250,000 fine for each count.  A sentencing date of November 15, 2014 was set for Doomes. 

“This robbery was an act of brutality that placed innocent employees’ and customers’ lives at risk,” Finley stated.  “I hope this case serves to dispel the notion that robbery is a quick and easy way to make money.  If you commit this crime, you will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a Department of Justice initiative designed to reduce firearm crimes by removing dangerous and persistent felons from the community and promote firearm safety.  The PSN attorneys prosecute a variety of federal firearms violations listed in Titles 18 and 26 of the U.S. Code, including illegal possession of firearms and commission of crimes with firearms.

The FBI, ATF and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. –A Shreveport man pleaded guilty on Monday for failing to register his correct address for his sex offender identification, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Michael Thomas Cupp, 60, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty Monday before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, to one count of failure to update his sex offender registration.  According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, starting in January 2009, Cupp listed his sex offender registration as being in Texas.  However, upon investigation, it was determined that Cupp had never lived in the state.  Cupp was originally convicted of forcible rape, incest, carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile in State District Court in Baton Rouge in 1992.  After completion of his prison sentence, he began living in Shreveport in 1998.  Cupp then registered his address in Panola County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office in April of 2009, but after a compliance check of sex offenders in 2012, he was found to have been living and working continuously in Shreveport.

Cupp faces up to 10 years in prison, five years to life of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.  A sentencing date of November 10, 2014 has been set.

The U.S. Marshal’s Service, Panola County Sheriff’s Office in Texas, and the Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison D. Bushnell is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – A Natchitoches man was sentenced last week to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his part in a cocaine and methamphetamine distribution operation in parts of northwest and southwest Louisiana, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced.

Michael R. Casson, 38, of Natchitoches, La., was sentenced on Friday by U.S. District Court Judge Elizabeth E. Foote, for one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine and methamphetamine.  According to evidence presented at the March, 12, 2014 guilty plea, law enforcement agents investigated Casson as part of a DEA Task Force investigation into cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking in Bossier, Caddo, Natchitoches, and Vernon parishes and the state of Texas in 2012 and 2013.  Agents recorded Casson and another suspect discussing drug trafficking on several occasions.  Casson later set up a sale of cocaine to the suspect in April of 2013.

Casson was indicted on August 28, 2013, along with Eric Hunter, 43, of Natchitoches; Marquis Williams, 28, and Melvin Bobby Morris Jr., 25, both of Leesville, La.; and Isaiah Golston III, 42, of Shreveport. Golston was sentenced to 21 months in prison on June 12, 2014. Hunter was sentenced to 100 months in prison, and Williams was sentenced to 35 months in prison on June 13, 2014.  Morris was sentenced to 20 months in prison on July 23, 2014.  They were also sentenced to three years of supervised release.

“My office, along with our federal, state and local partners, is committed to keeping our communities safe and will continue to prosecute those who distribute illegal narcotics,” Finley stated.  “I hope those who choose to traffic understand that there are consequences when they pollute our communities with drugs.”  

The defendants were prosecuted as part of OCDETF Operation Styrofoam Cookies.  The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Cowles Jr. prosecuted the case.

The OCDETF program is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

SHREVEPORT, La. –A Keithville man was sentenced Thursday to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his part in stealing firearms from a Shreveport warehouse, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

James Minor Jr., 44, of Keithville, La., was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to one count of conspiracy to steal firearms. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on March 13, 2014, Minor conspired with David McNeil, Cameron Johnson, and Luther Williams Jr. to steal 63 Colt M4 Carbine rifles from a shipping warehouse in Shreveport on October 13, 2013. Johnson worked as a guard at the warehouse and allowed Minor and the other defendants inside. More than 55 rounds of ammunition were later found at McNeil’s residence after a search warrant was executed.

For their roles in the case, Williams, 23, of Shreveport, was sentenced on June 30, 2014, to 33 months in prison; Johnson, 22, of Keithville, was sentenced to 37 months in prison; and McNeil, 31, of Keithville, was sentenced to 72 months in prison. They were all ordered to serve three years of supervised release. Minor, Johnson, and Williams were also ordered to pay restitution of $30,062 jointly and severally.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a Department of Justice initiative designed to reduce firearm crimes by removing dangerous and persistent felons from the community and promote firearm safety. Project Safe Neighborhoods attorneys prosecute a variety of federal firearms violations listed in Titles 18 and 26 of the U.S. Code, including illegal possession of firearms and commission of crimes with firearms.

The ATF, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Cowles Jr. prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/ALEXANDRIA/MONROE/LAKE CHARLES, La.:United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley attended a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at a program hosted by the U.S. Justice Department and Howard University held in Washington, D.C., last week. 

Attorney General Eric Holder spoke at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on July 15, 2014, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.  The Attorney General gave a short history of the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

The Civil Rights Act was signed into law on July 2, 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, and ended legal segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.  It also blazed a trail for subsequent related legislation: the Voting Right Act, the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Fulfilling the promise of Brown vs. Board of Education, the Act authorized the Department of Education to assist with school desegregation and permits the U.S. Attorney General to file lawsuits to desegregate schools.  Additionally, the Act prohibits the unequal application of voting requirements, established the Community Relations Service, and gives enhanced authority to the Commission of Civil Rights.

“We know from our history that advances toward equality and inclusion have never been inevitable,” Attorney General Holder said Tuesday.  “Every step forward has been hard-won.  The words of our founding documents were not automatically imbued with the force of law.  And our nation’s future continues to be defined, and its destiny determined, by men and women of both character and conviction; by courageous people who are unafraid to stand up for what they know to be right; and by patriots who never shrink from the responsibility to draw this country ever closer to its highest ideals.”

The speakers and participants at the 50th anniversary program at Howard University honored the strides that have been made in the journey for equal rights and reminded those in attendance of the work that remains to fully realize that promise.  In addition to Howard University Interim President Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick and the keynote address by Attorney General Eric Holder, the program included remarks from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez, who lead two of the Department of Justice’s key government partners in enforcing the Civil Rights Act.  Ambassador Andrew Young, former leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, also delivered remarks. 

The D.C. celebration illuminated the importance of the 50-year class reunion of the Peabody High School Class of 1964 held on July 5, 2014, in Alexandria, La.  Finley spoke about the transformational events of the Civil Rights Movement that took place in Louisiana and across the nation in 1963 and 1964.      

More than 100 people attended the Class’ 50-year reunion banquet, including classmates that visited from as far away as California and New Jersey.  The Rev. George Price gave the invocation, and classmate Harold Morrison gave the greeting by telling humorous stories and reminding everyone of the importance of the class to the history of Peabody High School.  Classmate and former banker Willis L. Spears who has known Finley since she was a child, introduced her to those gathered for the reunion.

“We were happy to have U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley speak at our 50th class reunion,” reunion chair Lillie Batiste Stewart said. “She brought up highlights of events that took place in the early 1960s while we were in high school and complimented us on still being friends and keeping in touch after 50 years.”

J.B. Lafargue founded Peabody High School in 1895 as the Peabody Industrial School with his wife Sarah C. B. Mayo Lafargue.  At the time, it was the only school for black students in Alexandria with grades one to seven.  The school was named in honor of the George Peabody Foundation which had awarded a grant to the school.  It became a state-approved public school in 1933.  Today, Peabody High School is one of two magnet high schools in Rapides Parish.  George Peabody was born on February 18, 1795 in Danvers (now Peabody), Massachusetts.  In 1867, George Peabody established the Peabody Education Fund, the first education philanthropy in the United States.  The purpose of the fund was to help provide education to children of both races in destitute areas of the post-Civil War South.

“The members of this class were on the frontlines of the Civil Rights Movement in the South,” Finley stated. “They graduated high school during a time of great change and struggle. We owe a debt of gratitude to them for the sacrifices they made. Their efforts brought us closer to equality and hope to later generations. I am proud that I was chosen to speak before this distinguished group of men and women.”

In the years since the Act was signed, the struggle to attain the goals contained within has remained. The U.S. Attorney’s Office plays a pivotal role in the administration’s civil rights enforcement priorities.  Along with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has jurisdiction to bring cases under the Civil Rights Act and other related federal statutes.

Finley is the first female U.S. Attorney to serve in Louisiana.  She was selected by President Barack Obama in January of 2010, after being recommended by U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in June of 2010.  United States Attorney Finley was sworn into office on June 2, 2010 to serve the Western District of Louisiana as the chief law enforcement officer for 42 of the state’s 64 parishes.

LAKE CHARLES, La. –A Lake Charles woman pleaded guilty to stealing more than a quarter of a million dollars from her employer, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Kristen Brady, 47, of Lake Charles, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi to one count of bank fraud. According to the evidence presented at the guilty plea, Brady worked for a Lake Charles rental company as a bookkeeper for 12 years before her employment was terminated in November 2013. It was later discovered that she had forged authorizing signatures on more than 200 checks to her benefit in the company’s name, and in the process, received $255,324.04 of which she was not entitled.

“Criminals should know that we will prosecute those who steal from local businesses,” Finley stated. “Brady now will face the consequences of her actions.”

Brady faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, restitution and a $1 million fine. A sentencing date of October 30, 2014 was set.

The U.S. Secret Service and the Lake Charles Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard C. Parker is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. –A two-year-long undercover investigation has resulted in the seizure of more than $517,000 in cash and seven people being charged for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, firearm violations, and other related drug charges in parishes across north Louisiana, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

A grand jury delivered a 24-count indictment Wednesday against Quincy D. Hoover, 39, and Quwanda L. Forest, 35, both of Natchez, La.; Jesse C. Thomas, 30 of Haynesville, La.; Rodney J. Raymond, 35, of Natchitoches, La.; Shannon D. Jenkins, 34, and Carlos C. Jenkins, 36 both of Ruston, La, and another individual who is at large.

From June 2012 to July 2014, the defendants conspired to distribute cocaine throughout Lincoln, Claiborne, Natchitoches, Sabine, DeSoto, Bossier and Caddo parishes with the source cities for the cocaine being Houston and Dallas. Controlled purchases by law enforcement of cocaine powder and crack cocaine were made from several dealers during the investigation. Federal and local law enforcement officials arrested five of the defendants on July 1, 2014 in the northwest Louisiana area, in which more than a half a million dollars in cash, firearms, 16 pounds of marijuana and other items were seized.

The defendants were arrested as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation code named “Pit Stop.”  The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Louisiana State Police, Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, Ruston Police Department, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, Natchitoches Police Department,   Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bossier City Police Department, Shreveport Police Department, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, all participated in this OCDETF operation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys James G. Cowles Jr. and Cytheria Jernigan are prosecuting the case.

"The U.S. Attorney=s Office, along with our federal, state, and local partners, is committed to keeping our communities safe,” Finley stated. “Breaking up this drug distribution ring is a huge step in countering the flow of these illegal substances into the community. I want to thank all the agencies who have partnered with us on this operation and who continue to work to enforce both federal and state narcotics laws."

“The indictments, arrests, and seizures in this investigation are the direct result of outstanding partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement,” stated DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Joseph Shepherd. “DEA, along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who threaten our communities through the smuggling and distribution of illegal and dangerous drugs such as cocaine and marijuana.  The abuse of these drugs can have devastating health and societal effects, and these arrests strike a significant blow to the illegal drug trafficking trade in this community.” 

The OCDETF program is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets. 

An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

SHREVEPORT, La. –A Shreveport pastor was sentenced to 78 months in prison and three years of supervised release for transporting minors across state lines in order to engage in illegal sexual conduct, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Andrea Lewis, 54, of Shreveport, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote for three counts of transporting minors across state lines to have sex. As a part of his sentencing, he is also required to register as a sex offender. A jury found Lewis guilty on February 28, 2014 after a five-day trial. Witness testimony and exhibits admitted into evidence established that Lewis transported at least three minors to and from Texas to have sex with them.  The events happened from 1994 to 2000.  Lewis is a Shreveport pastor who formed and actively recruited members of a choir, which consisted of girls mostly under the age of 18 in his congregation.  He used his status as pastor and choir director to coerce young female church and, or, choir members to have sex with him.  He threatened the girls not to tell anyone, and used choir trips and other church related travel to cover up sexual abuse.

“Unfortunately, this defendant took advantage of his position to abuse young girls in his care and left them with emotional and physical scars that may never heal,” Finley stated. “He has forever altered their lives, and now he must face the consequences of his deplorable actions. The Assistant U.S. Attorney, FBI agents and the Shreveport Police Department officers who worked on this case are to be commended for their hard work and efforts in prosecuting this case.  They were instrumental in removing the defendant from the community.  He violated not only his oath as a minister, but also the trust of parents and these young children.”

The FBI and the Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case.

U.S. Attorney Finley can be reached at (337) 262-6618 for comments.

MONROE, La. –A Monroe resident was sentenced to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for illegal possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Corey Moses, 36, of Monroe, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert G. James, for one count of possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony and one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. According to evidence presented at the November 15, 2013 guilty plea, Sterlington police officers stopped the vehicle Moses was driving for speeding on December 9, 2010.  Moses consented to a search of the vehicle, and police found marijuana, two 9 mm pistols and one .380 caliber pistol.  The two 9 mm pistols were stolen from another person.  Moses had been previously convicted in Monroe of theft in 1996 and burglary in 1997.  He was also convicted in October of 2007 in Providence, R.I., of carrying a firearm by a person convicted of a felony.

“Felons carrying weapons is a violation of federal law,” Finley stated. “The defendant’s situation was further complicated by also possessing an illegal substance and had stolen the weapons.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to vigorously prosecute felons who possess firearms while in possession of illegal drugs.  Under our Project Safe Neighborhood Program, we have joined with our state and local partners to assure that convicted felons like Moses are identified, arrested and prosecuted.  Our goal is to remove convicted felons, violent offenders, drug traffickers and others who carry and use firearms from our streets and neighborhoods.  We want to make sure that each citizen feels safe and secure.”

The Sterlington Police Department, West Monroe Police Department, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Gillespie Jr. prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.  Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide program to reduce violence by aggressively enforcing existing federal firearms and explosives laws.

LAFAYETTE, La. –A Lafayette man suspected of making a bomb threat in the city of Lafayette has been arrested and charged for the bomb threat and an attempted bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Devin Haywood, 30, of Lafayette, was charged in a federal criminal complaint today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna with one count of using a facility in interstate commerce to willfully make a threat or maliciously convey false information and one count of attempted bank robbery. After the arraignment hearing, he was detained pending trial.

If convicted, the defendant faces 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for the bomb threat charge. He faces 20 years in prison and five years of supervised release for the attempted bank robbery charge. Both charges carry a fine of up to $250,000.

The FBI, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, Louisiana State Police, Lafayette Police Department, Lafayette Sheriff’s Office, and the University Louisiana at Lafayette Police Department investigated the case.

A complaint is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

LAKE CHARLES, La. –A former Fort Polk soldier was sentenced Thursday to 210 months in prison and five years of supervised release for sexually abusing a minor under the age of nine, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Emil Roland Rath, 39, of Mena, Ark., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi for one count of abusive sexual contact with a minor under the age of 12. As a part of his sentencing, he is also required to register as a sex offender. According to the evidence presented at the guilty plea on February 20, 2014, Rath admitted that he knowingly engaged in sexual contact with a child under the age of nine on the Fort Polk military base in November of 2003.  The defendant, who was in the U.S. Army at the time, was watching an animated movie with the child at the victim’s residence when the abusive contact occurred.  In determining the sentence, the court also considered prior convictions and prior conduct involving abuse of other minors by Rath.

“Unfortunately, when these acts occur, the impact is long term and affects the entire family,” Finley stated. “This defendant took advantage of the family’s trust and the child’s innocence to commit this horrendous crime.  Children’s safety is a primary concern and a priority of this office.  We will continue to prosecute those who abuse minors to the fullest extent of the law.”

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command and the FBI conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Myers Namie and Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.

LAKE CHARLES, La. –A Sulphur man was sentenced to 180 months in prison and five years of supervised released for possessing multiple firearms illegally, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Todd Allen Booth, 33, of Sulphur, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi for one count of possessing firearms after having been convicted of multiple felonies. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on March 27, 2014, law enforcement officers executed a warrant at Booth’s residence on July 10, 2012, and found eight firearms and ammunition. Of the firearms, three were shotguns, two were rifles and three were handguns. At the sentencing hearing today, the prosecution introduced records showing Booth was previously convicted of three residential burglaries. Booth was convicted of simple burglary in two separate matters in the 14th Judicial District Court in Calcasieu Parish in May of 2003. He was also convicted of burglary in Orange County, Texas, in June of 2001.These three prior convictions subject him to a mandatory jail term of not less than 15 years and not more than life under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative designed to reduce firearm crimes by removing dangerous and persistent felons from the community and promote firearm safety

The ATF, FBI, and the Calcasieu Anti-drug Team investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. –A Baton Rouge man was sentenced to 94 months in prison and three years of supervised release for using multiple false identities to steal an RV, boat and sport utility vehicle, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Charles K. Smith, 60, of Baton Rouge, was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to pay $91,208 in restitution. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on February 3, 2014, Smith paid for a Winnebago from a Picayune, Miss., business using a fraudulent check for $189,500 under the alias Anthony J. Barnes on February 15, 2010. On May 10, 2010, Smith purchased a SeaPro boat from a Henderson, La., business using a fraudulent check for $26,975 under the alias Randal Bass. He also bought a GMC Terrain from a Bossier City business using a fraudulent check for $25,286 under the alias William Rayford Johnson on April 6, 2011.

The FBI conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. –A Homer man pleaded guilty to stealing more than $59,000 from his Claiborne Parish employer’s bank account, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

John Bob Jr., 46, of Homer, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. According to the evidence presented at the guilty plea, the defendant used his employer’s debit card and personal identification number to make approximately 200 withdrawals totaling $59,602 from May 2012 to July 2013 from banks across northwest Louisiana.

Bob faces a maximum penalty of 32 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. A sentencing date of November 13, 2014 was set.

The FBI and Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. –A Homer man pleaded guilty to stealing more than $59,000 from his Claiborne Parish employer’s bank account, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

John Bob Jr., 46, of Homer, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. According to the evidence presented at the guilty plea, the defendant used his employer’s debit card and personal identification number to make approximately 200 withdrawals totaling $59,602 from May 2012 to July 2013 from banks across northwest Louisiana.

Bob faces a maximum penalty of 32 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. A sentencing date of November 13, 2014 was set.

            The FBI and Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg is prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. –A Texas man was sentenced to 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release for contacting a 14-year-old girl in order to start a sexual relationship, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Elton Ray Jones, 67, of Zavalla, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote for one of count attempting to entice a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. He was found guilty after a two-day jury trial that ended on March 12, 2014. Based on witness testimony and documents admitted into evidence, it was shown that from September 11, 2012 to October 17, 2012, Jones made contact and conducted online chats with a law enforcement officer posing as a 14-year-old girl.  Jones engaged in explicit conversations and planned a sexual encounter. Law enforcement officers arrested Jones on October 17, 2012 in Lafayette where Jones had planned to meet the girl.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice launched 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 (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations/Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) DHS-2ICE.  Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls. Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.  Tips may be submitted anonymously.

The Louisiana State Police and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Myers P. Namie and John Luke Walker prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. –A former warehouse manager was sentenced to 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release for stealing more than $900,000 worth of aircraft parts in return for cash, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Robert Michal Styron, 38, of Iowa, La., was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik to pay restitution of $930,401. Styron pleaded guilty on July 11, 2013 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Styron used his position as warehouse manager of Aeroframe Services LLC in Lake Charles to steal merchandise and sell it to another party. He took part in the conspiracy from February 26, 2007 to June 10, 2009. Aeroframe was a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)/European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified Part 145 repair station and maintenance repair operations business.

The U.S. Secret Service and the Lake Charles Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard A. Willis and Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. –A Shreveport man was sentenced to 264 months in prison and eight years of supervised release for his role in a Shreveport cocaine distribution conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Quacy L. Francis, 38, of Shreveport was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter for one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base.  According to evidence presented at the guilty pleas in January 2014, Francis and others conspired to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base in the Shreveport area from November 2012 to May 2013.  The FBI conducted three controlled purchases of cocaine, both crack and powder, from Francis. Francis purchased cocaine from Michael T. Johnson, 40, of Shreveport, and others to be distributed in the Shreveport area.    Lemarcus Miller, 32, and Demarkus Miller, 32, both from Shreveport, were also part of the conspiracy.

Demarkus Miller and Lemarcus Miller were each sentenced to 60 months in prison and four years of supervised release on March 27, 2014 and May 16, 2014 respectively.  Johnson was sentenced to 120 months in prison and eight years of supervised release on April 28, 2014.

This case is part of an investigation called Operation Dry Cedar conducted by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).  OCDETF is a joint multi-agency group consisting of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies with a cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking.  Operation Dry Cedar was a jointly conducted investigation by the FBI’s Northwest Louisiana Violent Crimes Task Force, DEA, Bossier City Police Department, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana State Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison D. Bushnell prosecuted the case.