Western District of Louisiana
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Threats Made to VA and Medical Center Employees Sends Noble, LA Man to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Aaron Wade Knight, 31, of Noble, Louisiana, has been sentenced for making threats of violence against employees with the Sabine Medical Center (SMC) and the Veterans Administration (VA). Knight was convicted in February 2023 by a federal jury in Shreveport.
Knight was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to 27 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for making these threats of violence. The charges Knight was convicted of stem from incidents which both occurred on June 1, 2022, when he made threats of violence against employees of the SMC in Many, Louisiana, and the VA in Shreveport and Alexandria. The first incident occurred in the morning hours of June 1 when Knight, who was living in Virginia at the time, called the VA hot line in Alexandria and spoke to a nurse who was working the call center. Knight proceeded to tell the nurse that he was upset about a bill he had received for a hospital visit a few weeks earlier at the SMC. As the conversation continued, Knight became more agitated and made the comment to her, “What do I need to do, do I need to blow up this place to get some help?” Out of concern about the threatening comments Knight made to her, the nurse contacted a patient advocate with the VA in Shreveport who had worked with Knight before.
The patient advocate then contacted Knight out of concern about the comments he had made moments earlier to the nurse. During the phone call, Knight became angry with the patient advocate and began to shout and made the following threatening statement to her, “do I need to go up there and shoot these motherf***rs in the f***ing face.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Many Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Aaron Crawford and Andrew Weber.
# # #
Shreveport Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Loaded Firearms at His ResidenceRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Roderick Agnes, 42, of Shreveport, Louisiana, has been sentenced in U.S. District Court, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote sentenced Agnes to 112 months (9 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to evidence presented to the court, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a house on State Street in Shreveport, Louisiana on May 27, 2022. Agnes lived at the home and was present when the search occurred. Inside the master bedroom of the residence, law enforcement agents located a loaded Taurus pistol, model: PT1911, caliber: 45 containing seven rounds of ammunition; a loaded Century Arms pistol, model: Canik TP9, caliber: 9mm containing 12 rounds of ammunition; a Maverick Arms shotgun, Model: 88, caliber: 12 gauge; approximately 4 ounces of cocaine hydrochloride; digital scales; and over $2,000 in cash.
The suspected cocaine was submitted to the crime lab for testing and the results confirmed the substance was in fact cocaine hydrochloride. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) examined the recovered firearms and found all three firearms to be operable. In addition, agents determined that all three firearms traveled in interstate commerce. Agnes pleaded guilty to the charges on December 6, 2022.
Agnes is a convicted felon, having previously been convicted of Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance in Caddo Parish in 2005. At the time he possessed the Taurus pistol, the Century Arms pistol, the Maverick Arms shotgun, and the ammunition on or about May 27, 2022, Agnes knew that he had previously been convicted of a felony crime and was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and ATF and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy. This effort is part of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
# # #
Drugs Seized from Residence in Claiborne Parish Leads to 15+ Year Sentence for Haynesville ManRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. –United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the sentencing of Dean Fitzgerald Williams, 40, of Haynesville, Louisiana. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote sentenced Williams to 181 months (15 years, 1 month) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Williams pleaded guilty to the charges on February 8, 2023.
Law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at the residence of Williams on June 24, 2022. During the search of the residence, officers located methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and a scale in a storage room in the residence. Inside the master bedroom of the residence, law enforcement agents located additional crack cocaine (approximately 8.5 gross grams) and approximately 680.2 grams of marijuana. A Sig Sauer pistol, model: 1911 We the People, caliber: .45 Auto was located in Williams’ bedding and a Hi-Point pistol; model: C9; caliber: .9mm, was located under his mattress and box springs, as well as approximately $13,000 in cash, which he admitted post-Miranda to be drug proceeds.
The narcotics were sent to the DEA Southeast Laboratory in Miami, Florida who analyzed them and determined the drugs to be 419.8 grams of methamphetamine actual (pure) and 113.0 grams of cocaine base. Williams admitted that the narcotics found in his residence belonged to him included the methamphetamine found in the storage room and that he possessed both firearms in furtherance of the commission of the drug trafficking offense charged, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the DEA, ATF, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office and Ruston Police Department and was prosecuted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Edwards and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath.
# # #
Three Men Found to be Illegally Possessing Firearms Headed to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that three men who illegally possessed firearms were sentenced today by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote. The three defendants who were sentenced today are as follows:
Christopher Joel Cox, 28, of McLeod, Texas was sentenced to 70 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for being a prohibited person in possession of firearms. On April 24, 2022, a deputy with the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle being driven by Cox. The deputy noticed a pistol laying on the back passenger floorboard and Cox and his passenger gave consent to search the vehicle. During the search, the deputy recovered several loaded firearms from inside the vehicle. After further investigation, law enforcement officers learned that he had an active warrant from Colorado and he was subsequently arrested. Cox was previously convicted of Assault 2-Strangulation-Attempted in Colorado in 2018 and was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan.
Jelantis J. Chatman, 28, and Courvisier U. Glover, 24, both of Shreveport, were each charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Chatman was sentenced to 30 months in prison and Glover was sentenced to 32 months in prison. Both men will serve 3 years of supervised release following their release from prison.
The charges stem from a traffic stop which occurred on September 16, 2022. An officer with the Shreveport Police Department stopped the vehicle which was being driven by Chatman and in which Glover was the passenger. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers found a loaded Glock pistol with an extended magazine under Chatman’s seat, as well as a loaded Glock pistol under Glover’s seat.
Chatman and Glover each have prior felony convictions and knew that they were prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Chatman’s prior felony convictions are for simple burglary in 2015, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in 2018 in U.S. District Court in the Western District of Louisiana. Glover has an extensive criminal history, including being convicted twice for possession of a firearm by a person convicted of domestic abuse battery, in 2018 and 2020.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Shreveport Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg.
These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
# # #
U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown Announces the Indictment of 24 Individuals Associated with Shreveport Street Gang on Charges Related to CARES Act Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown, along with Supervisory Senior Resident Agent in Charge Lynn Higgins of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Gary Smith of the Department of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Acting United States Marshal Chris Felix held a press conference today to announce the indictment of 24 defendants on fraud charges related to the CARES Act. The defendants in this indictment are all members or associates of a Shreveport street gang that refer to themselves as Step or Die or SOD.
In March 2020 Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the CARES Act, the Small Business Administration (SBA) provided Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), which were low-interest financing to small businesses, renters and homeowners in regions affected by declared disasters. The CARES Act also provided authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through a program referred to as the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”).
Defendant Name
Charges
Loan Amount and Type
Sirdell McCullough
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Roderguiz Henry
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,260 / PPP
Johntrell Crutchfield
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Deanthony Johnson
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,575 / PPP
$8,000 / EIDL
Deaaundrakous Hagger
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,833 / PPP
$20,833 / PPP
Nico Stewart
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$4,000 / EIDL
$1,000 / EIDL
Timothy Vasher
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Destane Glass
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Xavien Beasley
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$10,000 / EIDL
Quinterrius Brown
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
$30,800 / EIDL
Not funded
Toronco Loston
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Not funded
$201,100 / EIDL
Not funded
Dewonnie Brown
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
$20,800 / PPP
$20,833 / PPP
$20,833 / PPP
Joshua Dominique
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Kadarius Jenkins
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Jasmine Glass
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$8,332 / PPP
Tramaine Taylor
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Antoria Johnson
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,458 / PPP
$20,458 / PPP
Joketa Baulkman
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$19,005 / PPP
$19,005 / PPP
Tyneal Johnson
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,833 / PPP
$20,800 / PPP
Cierra Fleming
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
$20,207 / PPP
Tramarciea Ruffins
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,415 / PPP
Olivia Thomas
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,832 / PPP
Samarrian Kingston
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,272 / PPP
Lakeah Gipson
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Wire Fraud
$20,058 / PPP
“This is why the United States Attorney’s Office is here,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “This is what we do and is why we become federal prosecutors and investigators with the Department of Justice. Prosecuting violent street gangs with white collar statutes is rare, but we use all the tools we have and try to hold those accountable that break the law and terrorize our communities with acts of violence. We hope to continue to collaborate with our state partners to do our part to eradicate violence while simultaneously focusing on one of the priorities of the department, which is CARES Act fraud.”
“The FBI works with its partners to disrupt and dismantle criminal enterprises like this one,” said Douglas A. Williams, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of FBI New Orleans. “Individuals or groups who seek to steal from programs meant to aid Americans in their time of need, will be investigated and prosecuted accordingly.”
“This indictment demonstrates the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration’s commitment to investigate and bring to justice those that victimize the American taxpayer,” stated Inspector General J. Russell George. “Abusing a Federal program designed to assist Americans in need, by fraudulently applying for loans, has and will continue to be aggressively investigated. I want to thank our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s office for their commitment to this goal.”
Defendant Roderguiz Henry is a fugitive. If you have information concerning his whereabouts, please contact the U.S. Marshal’s Service at 318-934-4300.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendants face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, 1 to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Treasury-Inspector General for Tax Administration, and United States Marshal’s Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
# # #
Distributor of Cocaine in Lafayette Area Receives Federal Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Joshua Lewis, 50, of Basile, Louisiana, has been sentenced for possessing cocaine and cocaine base with the intent to distribute, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced Lewis to 60 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Evidence introduced in court revealed that beginning in August 2019 and continuing through January 2021, Lewis conspired with Shawn White, Courtney Smith, Shane Malveaux, Kevin Hardy, and others to distribute narcotics, including cocaine and cocaine base in south Louisiana. During their investigation into this drug trafficking organization, agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) obtained evidence through the use of controlled purchases of narcotics with confidential sources, as well as the interception of wire communications between the defendants in this organization. On or about January 7, 2021, agents obtained intercepted communications between Lewis and White which revealed that they worked out a deal for Lewis to purchase powder cocaine from White. Lewis and his co-defendants were charged in an indictment on February 10, 2021. On March 17, 2023, Lewis pleaded guilty and admitted that he was in an agreement with his co-conspirators to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.
Three other defendants were charged in this case and have been sentenced as follows:
Shane Christopher Malveaux, 51, of Eunice, Louisiana, was sentenced to 100 months (8 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiring with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.
Courtney Nacol Smith, 48, of Katy, Texas, to 60 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.
Shawn Dwayne White, 46, of Eunice, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for conspiring with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.
The case was investigated by the DEA and Department of Homeland Security-Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
This effort is part of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
# # #
Justice Department Facilitates Meetings in Western District of Louisiana for Ways to Combat Unlawful Acts of HateRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that community meetings were held last week in both the Shreveport and Lafayette areas in hopes of finding ways to combat unlawful acts of hate targeted at the LGTBQIA+ community.
In September 2022, United States Attorney General Merrick Garland announced a nationwide initiative to combat these crimes of hate and stated that investigating and prosecuting hate crimes is a top priority for the Justice Department. The United Against Hate Community Outreach Program was established to bring awareness and emphasize the need to report hate incidents as well as crimes. Hate crimes target and harm not just individual victims, but entire communities and it is important that we use every tool available to prevent, deter, and respond to hate crimes and bias-motivated forms of extremism.
The program brings together community leaders with federal, state and local law enforcement to help the community be better informed and understand how to report hate crimes and build trust between law enforcement and communities. Through using hypothetical scenarios and video clips depicting real-life hate crime cases and stories, United Against Hate promotes interaction between community members and law enforcement participants. Program topics include: defining hate crimes versus hate incidents; the importance of reporting unlawful acts of hate; providing options for responding to hate incidents when situations do not constitute a federal or state crime; and distinguishing unlawful conduct from protected First Amendment activity, including identifying protected speech versus speech that advocates violence or encourages people to commit hate crimes.
The first event was held at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette on June 28, 2023, and the second event was held at the Louisiana State University at Shreveport on June 29, 2023. Panelists for the events in both Shreveport and Lafayette included representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice Community Relations Service, Shreveport Police Department, People Acting for Change and Equality (PACE), Louisiana Trans Advocates, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Acadiana Queer Collective, and Community Advocate. The Justice Department is committed to its United States Attorney’s Offices strengthening its relationships within their respective communities in terms of civil rights awareness and resources. The Western District of Louisiana has sponsored or participated in civil rights related meetings in Shreveport, Lafayette, Alexandria, Monroe, Lake Charles, Tallulah, Bossier City, and Grambling, related to use of force investigations, disparities in public school education, issues concerning English Learner students, and the like.
“The United Against Hate program is another tool in our toolkit that we will use to try and eradicate hate in our district," stated United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “It is my understanding that there are multiple unsolved transgender homicides and assaults in this district. There is a natural hesitation of persons that may have information concerning these crimes to engage with law enforcement, but we want to extend the olive branch. Every person in the Western District of Louisiana, and everywhere for that matter, deserves to live in a community where they do not have to be fearful of being harassed or attacked because of their color, gender identification, sexual preference, or religious beliefs. This is another civil rights related event that we have sponsored that has led to more open discussion and awareness concerning these issues that plague our communities today.”
“It is vital that the public understand how important reporting a potential hate crime is,” said Douglas A. Williams, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of FBI New Orleans. “Without the help of the community, these malicious crimes may go unpunished. The FBI is proud to be part of the U.S. Attorney’s effort to educate the public on how we can help develop strategies to address local hate crime problems. Anyone with civil rights concerns can contact us at 1-800-CALL-FBI, the FBI New Orleans Headquarters at (504) 816-3000 or submit a tip at https://tips.fbi.gov.”
“The Office of Campus Diversity was happy to partner with the Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney General's Office for the Western District of Louisiana, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Community Relations Service on the United Against Hate Event,” stated Kiwana T. McClung, Chief Diversity Officer and Professor of Architecture and Design at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. “Our office is committed to educating our campus stakeholders about issues of concern affecting the LGBTQ+ community and this event was very timely, assisting us in fulfilling that mission. The information, resources, and perspectives provided during this event were very beneficial to the attendees and we would like to sincerely thank the panelists for their service. We look forward to partnering again in the future, so that we may continue our mission of inclusive excellence at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and in the wider Lafayette community.”
“Never let anyone’s ignorance become your reality,” stated Roxie C. Black, LGBTQ+ Community Advocate and panelist at the United Against Hate community meeting held in Lafayette, Louisiana.
"With the continuous rise of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric spreading across our state and country, we can only expect an increase in related hate crimes,” said Peyton Rose Michelle, Executive Director of Louisiana Trans Advocates. “I'm grateful that the DOJ is invested in ensuring that our community knows their safety is a priority and ensuring they know the importance of reporting hate crimes. And as a leader, I'm grateful to know I have a trusted resource to support my community when they share with me that they've experienced the trauma of a hate crime."
Development of the United Against Hate program was led by the Civil Rights Division. EOUSA and other components in the Department’s Hate Crimes Enforcement and Prevention Initiative, including the Community Relations Service, the Community Oriented Policing Services Office, the FBI, and the Office of Justice Programs, provided critical assistance in developing the program. Click here for more information about ways to combat hate crimes and incidents.
# # #
Distribution and Possession of Controlled Substances and Illegal Possession of Firearm Leads to Federal Prison Time for Two MenRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT/LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the sentencing of two men in Shreveport and Lake Charles for their role in the trafficking of drugs in those cities.
United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced Paul Vincent Williams, 38, of Bossier City, Louisiana, to 216 months (18 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to evidence introduced in court, law enforcement agents working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were involved in an ongoing investigation of drug trafficking activities in the Shreveport/Bossier City area. Through their investigation, agents had specific information that Williams had sold and distributed various amounts of methamphetamine in February and March 2021. These amounts of methamphetamine were confirmed through testing by the DEA laboratory to be a total of 1,250 grams of pure methamphetamine. Agents conducted surveillance of Williams in February 2022 and subsequently conducted a traffic stop of Williams. A federal search warrant was obtained for Williams’ vehicle and inside agents recovered approximately 232.2 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 4.4 grams of suspected heroin, 37.4 grams of suspected marijuana, 56.3 grams of assorted pills, as well as five firearms, ammunition and over $8,500 in cash. The seized narcotics were sent to the DEA laboratory for testing and the methamphetamine was confirmed to be 216.9 grams of pure substance, while the suspected heroin was found to be fentanyl, containing 0.5 grams of the purse substance. Williams pleaded guilty on March 13, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The case was investigated by the FBI and ATF and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan.
Trevor Selwyn Daniel, Jr., 50, of Decatur, Georgia, was sentenced by United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. to 120 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. On February 12, 2020, Daniel was stopped by a Louisiana State Police trooper while traveling along Interstate 10. A K-9 officer arrived on the scene to assist and alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was then conducted by law enforcement officers, and they found over five kilograms of cocaine wrapped in bricks and stored in duffel bags in the cargo area. Daniel admitted that the cocaine belonged to him and pleaded guilty to the charge on April 12, 2023.
This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Louisiana State Police and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
# # #
Former President of Beauty Career Training School Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Janola Massaquoi, 41, of Shreveport, Louisiana was sentenced late yesterday by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. for making false statements to a federal agency in connection with the application for a CARES Act loan. Massaquoi was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $250,000. She will serve 3 years of supervised release following her release from prison.
In March 2020 Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the CARES Act, the Small Business Administration (SBA) provided Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), which were low-interest financing to small businesses, renters and homeowners in regions affected by declared disasters. The CARES Act also provided authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through a program referred to as the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”).
In 2018, Massaquoi formed the Jane Elizabeth Education Group (JEEG) and also served as the president of a beauty career training company. In 2020, she applied to the SBA for an EIDL in the name of JEEG d/b/a Company 1 seeking approximately $500,000 in EIDL Program funds. At the same time, she applied for a PPP loan in the name of JEEG d/b/a Company 1 seeking $178,750. As part of the EIDL application process, in April 2020, Massaquoi electronically submitted to the SBA a Loan Authorization and Agreement in which she certified to the SBA that “[JEEG] will not, without the prior written consent of SBA, make any distribution of Borrower’s assets, or give any preferential treatment, make any advance, directly or indirectly, by way of loan, gift, bonus, or otherwise to any owner or partner…” She also certified that the loan funds would be used solely as working capital for JEEG.
Both loan applications were subsequently approved. Based on her material misrepresentations set forth in the false Loan Authorization and Agreement, the SBA disbursed approximately $500,000 in EIDL benefits to a bank account held by Company 1. On April 23, 2020, approximately $178,750 in PPP loan benefits were disbursed to a bank account held by Company 1.
In reality and unbeknownst to the SBA, Massaquoi intended to make a large advance directly to herself and did not intend to use the EIDL funds solely as working capital for JEEG. After obtaining the loan benefits, Massaquoi transferred funds from Company 1’s bank account to other bank accounts she personally controlled and used the funds for a variety of personal expenses including a down payment on the purchase of a personal residence and mortgage payments. Massaquoi also withdrew over $30,000 in cash, transferred over $50,000 to friends and family members, and used approximately $83,000 to fund her personal investment and retirement accounts. In total, Massaquoi used $250,000 of the EIDL proceeds for her personal use.
“Because of the selfish actions of this defendant and her choice to defraud the government out of over $250,000 for her own personal gain, she now rightfully stands as a convicted felon and will spend time behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “These types of cases are part of why we have been called to do what we do at the United States Attorney’s Office. It is our sole responsibility to investigate and prosecute these types of cases. The CARES Act was designed to help those with businesses that were suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, not to line their own personal pockets to the detriment of the American taxpayer. We will bring those who steal federal taxpayer dollars to justice as these types of cases remain a priority for our office and the department. Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute these offenders in Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria, Lafayette, Lake Charles and all points in between.”
“Massaquoi represents a growing number of people who fraudulently received funds under the CARES Act and utilized them for personal gain,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Atlanta Field Office. “However, IRS Criminal Investigation and our federal law enforcement partners uncovered her deceitfulness and her sentencing is evidence that greed does not pay."
The case was investigated by the Department of Treasury, Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
# # #
Winnsboro Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – Eric Marquelle Coleman, 49, of Winnsboro, Louisiana, was sentenced today for illegal possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced Coleman to 96 months (8 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to evidence presented to the court, law enforcement agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Monroe Metro Narcotics Unit began an investigation into the trafficking of methamphetamine in the West Monroe area. While agents were conducting surveillance of an area on July 5, 2022, they observed a Ford F150 truck arrive and then promptly leave the location after receiving an unknown object. The vehicle was later stopped for a traffic violation and the driver was determined to be Coleman. A K9 officer arrived on the scene and an open-air sniff was conducted around the outside of the vehicle. The K9 alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle and agents conducted a search of the vehicle. Inside the vehicle, they discovered a Springfield Hellcat 9mm pistol.
Coleman has a lengthy criminal history and was also convicted in March 2015 of a federal felony for attempting to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute and sentenced to 70 months in the Bureau of Prisons. Coleman was out on supervised release at the time of his arrest. As a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Coleman pleaded guilty to the indictment on March 16, 2023.
The case was investigated by the DEA, ATF, Louisiana State Police, Monroe Police Department and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew C. Weber.
# # #
Theft of Federal Government Funds Results in Federal Prison Sentence for Oakdale WomanRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Bobbie J. Blake Hampton, 62, of Oakdale, Louisiana, was sentenced today for theft of government funds, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge Dee D. Drell sentenced Hampton to 8 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for theft of government money. Hampton was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $65,259.
Hampton’s brother W.R.C., who was an SSID program participant, died on September 20, 2013. The SSA later determined in 2020 that those SSID funds were still being distributed to a bank account in the name of W.R.C. An investigation by the SSA revealed that following his death, Hampton fraudulently converted all of the funds received from SSA into the bank account of W.R.C. from October 2013 through November 2020 for her own personal use. Hampton used these funds at local businesses in the Alexandria area when she knew that she was not entitled to receive those funds.
In addition, a United States Treasury COVID Economic Impact Relief Payment of $1,200 was deposited into the account of W.R.C. and was also fraudulently converted by Hampton for her own personal use. Hampton pleaded guilty to three counts of theft of government money on February 28, 2023.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy.
If you would like to report any type of Social Security Administration fraud, you can do so by accessing their website at: https://oig.ssa.gov/report or call 1-800-269-0271.
# # #
Drug Traffickers from Lafayette Area Sentenced for Possession of HeroinRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Lensly Johnnie, 38, of Lafayette, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays on drug charges. Johnnie was sentenced to 88 months (7 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
On July 31, 2019, officers with the Lafayette Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a vehicle operated by Johnnie’s co-defendant, Ernest Taylor. Johnnie was a front seat passenger in the vehicle. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, Johnnie and Taylor fled the scene and their vehicle was later found unoccupied and parked at a nearby residence in Lafayette. An officer saw Johnnie and another male walking down the street near the location of the abandoned vehicle. Johnnie was stopped and found to have over $3,900 on his person and had a strong odor of marijuana.
Meanwhile, law enforcement officers had a K9 officer arrive at the location where the abandoned vehicle was left and conducted an open-air sniff and a probable cause search was conducted. Inside the vehicle officers found what was thought to be approximately 332 grams of cocaine and approximately 16 grams of heroin hidden inside the door panel. The seized narcotics were sent to the crime lab for testing, and it was determined the narcotics seized were not cocaine, but in fact heroin, with a total of 329.3 grams seized. Johnnie pleaded guilty on March 28, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute heroin.
Ernest Taylor, the co-defendant in this case, was sentenced on April 25, 2023, to 60 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for his role in the offense.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Lafayette Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy.
# # #
Theft of Social Security Funds Result in Federal Prison Sentence for Eunice ManRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – A Eunice, Louisiana man has been sentenced in the Western District of Louisiana for theft of funds from the Social Security Administration, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown.
Scotty Paul Fournerat, 50, was sentenced by United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. to two 37-month terms of imprisonment to run concurrently, followed by two 3-year terms of supervised release which will also run concurrently. In addition, Fournerat was ordered to pay restitution to the SSA in the amount of $49,792.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) reported that M.V., a Title XVI Supplemental Security Income Disability (SSID) program participant and the aunt of Fournerat, failed to appear for a redetermination hearing in October 2017. The SSA subsequently suspended payments to M.V. due to her failure to cooperate with the redetermination. Through their investigation, the SSA learned that M.V. had died on January 2, 2012, some five years earlier, but they were not made aware of her death. SSA determined that two days following M.V.’s death an unidentified individual changed the bank account associated with her account so that the payments would route to Comerica Bank and the payments could be accessible by debit card.
Fournerat admitted to using the debit cards to access the SSID funds for his own personal use by making purchases and ATM withdrawals at various locations in St. Landry and Evangeline Parishes. He admitted that he had not applied for the program funds and that he knew the funds were for the sole use of M.V. while she was alive, but yet he willingly and knowingly used the funds for his own personal benefit. Fournerat pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of government money on March 22, 2023.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danny Siefker.
# # #
U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown Announces the Appointment of Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in Monroe DivisionRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the appointment of Catherine Semmes to serve as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This appointment is the result of a partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Ouachita Parish District Attorney’s Office in the Monroe Division of the Western District of Louisiana.
Due to the proliferation of gang and gun violence in the Monroe area, U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown and Ouachita Parish District Attorney Steve Tew have joined efforts in a unique way to fight violent crime in that area by adding a specially appointed federal prosecutor to work these types of cases. The goal is for Ms. Semmes to partner as a SAUSA with the district’s Project Safe Neighborhood Program and other Assistant U.S. Attorneys to improve the program’s effectiveness in the northeast corner of the district.
“We have collaboratively made some strides in fighting violent crime, but in approaching District Attorney Tew with this idea, I wanted to take our relationship with the Ouachita Parish District Attorney’s Office to the next level,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “We are grateful that District Attorney Tew is willing to share his talent with our office to find ways to combat the violent crime epidemic our district is facing. SAUSA Semmes will assist where we need it most and we look forward to having her as a part of our office. She has developed a great working relationship with our federal agents and task force officers over the years, is a stalwart with the Metro Narcotics Unit, and is dedicated to helping us eradicate gang violence in Monroe.”
“The partnership between the District Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice is a powerful tool in the fight against violent crime,” said Ouachita Parish District Attorney Steve Tew. “I am committed to working with the DOJ to successfully prosecute violent offenders who bring guns and drugs into our communities. ADA Cathy Semmes is a zealous prosecutor. She, as well as the other prosecutors in our office, will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s office to focus on the worst offenders. I appreciate the opportunity to partner with U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown and his team.”
Catherine Semmes has worked as an Assistant District Attorney for the 4th Judicial District Court in Ouachita Parish since February 2020, where she has served as the office’s liaison with Metro Narcotics and serves in the parish’s Violent Crime Repeat Offender Unit. She also tracks and maintains information concerning known gang members. Prior to practicing law, SAUSA Semmes worked as a Probation and Parole Officer for the Office of Juvenile Justice. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law.
# # #
Drug Traffickers from St. Martinville Area Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that five men who were involved with the trafficking of cocaine and cocaine base in the St. Martinville, Louisiana, area were each sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge David C. Joseph. The five defendants and their sentences are as follows:
Marvis Mason, 41, of St. Martinville, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
Kendrell Jones, 43, of New Iberia, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Marcus Bourda, 44, of St. Martinville, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Dennis Benoit, 44, of St. Martinville, was sentenced to 33 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Codie James, 43, of St. Martinville, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
In late 2019, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), assisted by officers with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, began an investigation into the suspected illegal activities of a narcotics distributor residing in the Western District of Louisiana. Through their investigation, agents were able to identify this distributor of cocaine and cocaine base. Law enforcement agents were granted an application authorizing the interception of wire communications from this individual’s phone. During the interception period, agents learned that this individual used his residence to sell cocaine as well as cook and sell cocaine base. Agents were able to intercept communications wherein he agreed to multiple narcotics transactions which were then confirmed through physical surveillance of his residence.
Through their investigation, agents determined that the individual’s suppliers for powder cocaine and cocaine base included Kendrell Jones, Dennis Benoit, and Marvis Mason. Jones also supplied narcotics to others, including Marcus Bourda. In addition, agents determined that Codie James also assisted in the distribution of cocaine.
“This case has resulted in the arrest and conviction of numerous individuals who chose to illegally possess and distribute controlled substances and contribute to the corruption in this area,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “It is without a doubt thanks to the great work of law enforcement agents in the Western District of Louisiana, from both the federal and state agencies, who partnered together and put in many long hours investigating and developing the evidence needed to convict these individuals. We look forward to continuing these partnerships in our district.”
Another defendant in this case, Darrall Johnson, 29, of New Iberia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and is scheduled to be sentenced June 29, 2023.
Other defendants in this case who have already been convicted and sentenced are as follows:
Joshua Bourda, 38, of St. Martinville, was sentenced on April 3, 2023, to 60 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release.
Brandon K. Fontnett, 39, of Lafayette, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on April 3, 2023, to 151 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
# # #
Former Financial Director of Monroe Hospital Sentenced for Committing Wire FraudRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – Edward Calloway, 44, of West Monroe, Louisiana, has been sentenced on federal wire fraud charges, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. At the sentencing hearing, Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced Calloway to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to evidence presented to the court, Calloway served as the Financial Director for Ouachita Parish Hospital Service District’s G.B. Cooley Hospital (“Cooley Hospital”) from 2016 until October 2019. Prior to serving as their Financial Director, Calloway was the First Staff Accountant from 2010 until 2016.
Beginning in 2012, Calloway began stealing from Cooley Hospital by transferring money from the hospital’s general fund, sinking fund, and payroll accounts to his personal accounts at Richland State Bank and Louisiana Capital Federal Credit Union. Calloway used a computer to initiate the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) bank transfers. The bill of information filed in this case charged Calloway with causing an ACH transfer of $1,945.34 to be transferred by an interstate wire from a Cooley Hospital account to his personal bank account. Calloway’s theft continued until October 2019 and resulted in a total loss of $892,602.18. Calloway pleaded guilty to the charge of wire fraud on December 12, 2022.
“G.B. Cooley Hospital Service is an iconic medical and counseling services provider to northeast Louisiana residents who need specialized care due to mental and physical issues and is funded by state and federal taxpayer dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “Mr. Calloway had a fiduciary duty as Financial Director to oversee these state and federal funds in a prudent fashion to the benefit of Cooley’s residents and clients, not himself. Instead, he took advantage of these individuals by stealing this money for his personal gain and has now been held accountable. We will be vigilant and unwavering in our duty to protect the interests our most vulnerable citizens in the district and the taxpayer dollar.”
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, Louisiana Office of State Inspector General and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Alexander C. Van Hook, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney.
# # #
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Case Results in Sentence of More than 8 Years for North Louisiana ManRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) case dubbed “Operation Pick Your Battles” has resulted in a conviction and sentence for Clifton Williams, 48, of Many, Louisiana. Williams was sentenced today by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to a total of 100 months (8 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Williams pleaded guilty November 2, 2022, to possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to evidence presented to the court, on or about February 10, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Williams’ home in Many, Louisiana. Williams was present at the residence at the time of the search when officers found methamphetamine, a scale, a box of sandwich bags, and a loaded Glock Model 23 .40 caliber pistol with an extended magazine. Williams was subsequently arrested. At the time of his arrest, Williams was serving time on federal supervised release for his conviction from 2011 of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine in United States District Court in the Western District of Louisiana. As a convicted felon, Williams knew that he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
The narcotics seized were sent to the crime lab for testing and confirmed to be methamphetamine. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) examined the firearm and determined it to be operable.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, ATF, and Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy.
This effort is part of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
# # #
Federal Jury Convicts North Carolina Man of Transporting Cocaine through LouisianaRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that a federal jury returned a guilty verdict yesterday afternoon convicting Howard Davis, 45, of Raleigh, North Carolina, of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote presided over the two-day jury trial.
Testimony at trial showed that on August 2, 2022, Davis was stopped by a Louisiana State Trooper on Interstate 20 near Minden, Louisiana, for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, the trooper became suspicious of the story that Davis gave him as to why he was traveling through the area. The trooper was able to receive information from law enforcement indicating that the vehicle Davis was driving had been seen in North Carolina during the early morning hours the day before the traffic stop and was seen later that same evening in Dallas, Texas. The information Davis provided to the trooper led him to believe that he was not being truthful. A Louisiana State Trooper K-9 was called in and conducted an open-air sniff of Davis’ vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics. While conducting a search of the vehicle, troopers found inside the trunk a tote bag containing approximately 4.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine wrapped in black electrical tape. The cocaine had an estimated street value of over $110,000. The narcotics were seized and sent to the DEA Laboratory for testing, and it was confirmed to be cocaine.
Davis faces a sentence of up to 40 years in prison, and a fine of up to $1,000,000. His sentencing has been scheduled for October 11, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Louisiana State Police and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy and Alexander C. Van Hook, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney.
# # #
Federal Defendant Receives 19+ Year Sentence for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that a Lake Charles man has been sentenced by United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. for trafficking methamphetamine.
Andrew Simmons, III, 42, was sentenced to 235 months (19 years, 7 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. On August 10, 2021, troopers with the Louisiana State Police and other law enforcement agents with the Anti-Drug Task Force based in Calcasieu Parish, attempted to execute an arrest warrant on Simmons. As he exited his residence and got into his vehicle, law enforcement officers activated their emergency lights, but Simmons fled at a high rate of speed. After a short vehicle and foot pursuit, Simmons was apprehended.
Officers detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside his vehicle and conducted a search of it. Inside the vehicle, officers located a black duffle bag which contained several clear bags containing approximately 4,121 grams of methamphetamine, as well as a loaded Ruger 9mm pistol. Simmons was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security - Criminal Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
# # #
Bastrop Man Sentenced in Human Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Deray Montrez Richard, 38 of Bastrop, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 228 months (19 years) in prison in connection with a human trafficking case. Richard was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,000.
“This is another case of a defendant taking advantage of vulnerable individuals in our society for selfish reasons,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “We know that there are many other instances of human trafficking and forced labor across our district and we are committed to funneling resources toward combating such heinous activity.”
According to evidence presented to the court, Richard met a 20-year-old female (Victim 1) on Facebook in the fall of 2020 and he convinced her to travel with him. In December 2020, Richard and another female (Victim 2) drove to Kentucky to pick up Victim 1 in order to prostitute for Richard. Once they picked her up, Richard and the two females drove to Mesquite, Texas where they got two hotel rooms. While in Mesquite, at Richard’s direction, Victim 1 saw several johns and performed sexual acts in exchange for money. Richard kept the money and in fact physically assaulted and forced Victim 1 to engage in prostitution. Richard left Mesquite with the two female victims, arrived in Bossier City, Louisiana on December 12, 2020, and rented two rooms at a local hotel. While in Bossier City, Richard directed Victim 1 to post escort ads on the internet advertising sexual services. He later got into an argument with Victim 1 that escalated to him beating her.
On December 13, 2020, Richard and the two female victims moved to another hotel in Bossier City and rented two rooms. While there, both female victims saw several johns and performed sexual acts at Richard’s direction. Later that day, Richard began to physically assault both female victims at the hotel. Victim 1 was able to flee the room and report the fight to the hotel clerk, then ran to a nearby convenience store for assistance. Officers with the Bossier City Police Department arrived, and Richard was arrested. After further investigation by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Richard was indicted by a federal grand jury on human trafficking charges. Richard pleaded guilty to a charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion in February 2023.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Bossier City Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell.
# # #
Trafficking of Fentanyl, Heroin and Methamphetamine Results in Sentences Totaling 30+ Years in Federal Prison for Two Louisiana MenRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Two men involved in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine have been sentenced in the Western District of Louisiana, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced Robert Joseph Gant, 57, of Jennings, and Randall Tyler, 38, of Lake Charles as follows:
Robert Joseph Gant was sentenced to 210 months (17 years, 6 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Gant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
Randall Tyler was sentenced to 162 months (13 years, 6 months) in prison, followed by5 years of supervised release. Tyler pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The charges in this case stem from an investigation by agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which began in 2018 and continued through 2020, into the drug trafficking activities of Gant and Tyler, along with other co-conspirators. Law enforcement agents conducted surveillance and received approval to intercept wire communications to and from a co-defendant’s telephone. Through their monitoring of calls and messages sent from that telephone, as well as surveillance and other investigative techniques, agents learned that both Gant and Tyler, as well as other co-conspirators, were selling and distributing narcotics in the south Louisiana area.
Through their further investigation, law enforcement agents obtained evidence that Gant and Tyler were communicating with other co-conspirators regarding the type and quantity of narcotics that would be delivered to Gant and Tyler after this co-conspirator returned to Louisiana from Mexico. Agents were able to track the shipment of these narcotics and obtained search warrants for Gant’s residence and other stash houses. Upon execution of these search warrants, agents recovered approximately 1,017 grams of fentanyl, 260 grams of heroin and 320 grams of methamphetamine. Tyler and Gant were charged along with 14 others, in this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation named “Inspired Wrath.”
The case was investigated by the DEA, FBI, Eunice Police Department, Lafayette Police Department, and Louisiana State Police, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
This effort is part of an ongoing OCDETF operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
# # #
Four Defendants Involved in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Receive Sentences of over 68 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that four defendants who were charged in an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation with conspiring to sell methamphetamine in the Shreveport area have all now been sentenced. United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced the defendants as follows:
Frederick Cortez Walker, 33, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced to 292 months (24 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
Felecia B. Walker, 50, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced to 270 months (22 years, 6 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
Mario T. Nash, 42, of Haughton, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
Alana M. Taravella, 40, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced to 147 months (12 years, 3 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging all four defendants with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and each of them have pleaded guilty to the charge. Felecia B. Walker and Alana M. Taravella each also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. In addition, five firearms were seized from Taravella and forfeited.
According to evidence presented to the court, beginning on or about March 1, 2021, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) begin an investigation into the suspect drug trafficking activities of these defendants. The DEA was able to obtain approval to intercept phone calls on Frederick C. Walker’s phone. Agents intercepted phone calls between Walker, Felecia Walker, and others, in which they discussed the purchase and sale of methamphetamine. Specifically, a call was intercepted by agents on June 14, 2021 wherein the Walkers discussed the shipment of methamphetamine in the mail via UPS. Agents were able to seize the package and discovered approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine.
On June 10, 2021, agents intercepted a call wherein Frederick Walker arranged to distribute methamphetamine to an unknown subject. Agents set up surveillance to monitor the transaction and after it was complete, conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle. The driver was identified as Mario Nash. A search of his vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 488.7 gross grams of methamphetamine which was located wrapped in plastic inside the center console of the vehicle. Mario admitted to agents that he had purchased the narcotics from Frederick Walker.
On June 22, 2021, a search warrant was obtained for Frederick and Felecia Walker’s residence. At their residence, officers located approximately 1042.2 gross grams of marijuana, 949.4 gross grams of methamphetamine, a Ruger AR-556, an assortment of magazines including extended magazines, ammunition, and digital scales. Felecia Walker admitted to agents during an interview that the methamphetamine would be mailed to her via the mail and then she or Frederick Walker would mail the money for the methamphetamine to the supplier. Felecia Walker would then distribute the narcotics as directed by Frederick Walker.
On June 23, 2021, a search warrant was obtained for Taravella’s residence and during the search, agents recovered a Taurus 709 Slim 9mm handgun, a DPMS A-15 firearm, over $8,000 in cash, methamphetamine, packaging materials, and digital scales. In the vehicle parked outside of Taravella’s residence, agents found a Taurus G2C 9mm with extended magazine and ammunition, a Taurus PT738 .380 firearm with magazine and ammunition, a stolen Sig Sauer P365 9mm firearm with magazine and ammunition and 325 gross grams of methamphetamine. Taravella admitted to obtaining methamphetamine from Frederick Walker and distributing it to others.
The case was investigated by the DEA, Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office, and Louisiana State Police, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille Gilreath.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
# # #
Three Men Headed to Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine and Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the sentencing of three defendants in connection with cases involving the trafficking of narcotics and illegal possession of a firearm. United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced the following individuals:
Cedric Bell, 55, of Shreveport, was sentenced to 180 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, on drug and firearms charges. On August 20, 2021, a Caddo Parish Probation Officer searched Bell’s clothing and found a digital scale and cash in his pockets. When questioned by the officer, Bell admitted that he had some pills in his car and consented to a search of the vehicle. While searching Bell’s vehicle, officers found at least 50 grams of methamphetamine, a Taurus pistol, a Taurus revolver, and ammunition. Officers then searched Bell’s home and found ten more firearms, including two short-barreled rifles and a silencer. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) examined the firearms and determined they functioned as designed. Bell admitted to possession of the methamphetamine with intent to distribute and carrying and using firearms during a drug trafficking offense.
The case was investigated by the ATF and Caddo Parish Office of Probation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon H. Whitten.
Demetrius Sumner, 44, of Shreveport, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, on firearms charges. Sumner went to a local pawn shop in Shreveport in July 2021 and attempted to purchase four firearms. While completing the ATF Form 4473 to purchase the firearms, Sumner indicated on the form that he had not been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. When in truth and in fact, Sumner had been convicted of a domestic violence charge in Clark County, Nevada on August 3, 2017. After waiting several days and not receiving an answer on Sumner’s background check to purchase the firearms, the pawn shop released them to Sumner. However, ten days later, the pawn shop received information denying Sumner’s application check due to his prior conviction. Law enforcement agents got the firearms back from Sumner and he admitted to making a false statement to a firearms dealer about his prior conviction.
The case was investigated by the ATF and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille Gilreath.
In a separate and unrelated case, United States Judge Dee D. Drell sentenced Julius Bernard Washington, 39, of Natchitoches, Louisiana to 70 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine. In October 2021, Washington sold methamphetamine to an individual which was later seized by law enforcement agents. The total amount of actual methamphetamine distributed by Washington was approximately 301.5 grams. Washington pleaded guilty to the charge on January 25, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office and Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg.
# # #
Illegal Possession of Drugs and Guns Lead to Years in Prison for Three MenRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE/ALEXANDRIA, La. – Three defendants have been sentenced in the Lafayette and Alexandria Divisions in the Western District of Louisiana today for drug trafficking and firearms charges, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown.
United States District Judge Dee D. Drell sentenced Damien Romain Lavalais, 42, of Bunkie, Louisiana, to 262 months (21 years, 10 months) in prison, followed by 5 years supervised release, for distribution of methamphetamine. This charge is the result of an investigation by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into the drug trafficking activities of Lavalais. In July 2021, an undercover controlled purchase of methamphetamine was coordinated by agents with Lavalais. The meeting with him was monitored and recorded wherein he sold approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine to the individual. The narcotics were sent to the crime lab for analysis and confirmed to be methamphetamine with a purity level of 98%. Lavalais pleaded guilty to the charge on January 3, 2023.
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Nickel.
United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced Courtney Nacol Smith, 48, of Katy, Texas, to 60 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. Evidence introduced in court revealed that Smith conspired with others from August 2019 through January 2021 to distribute narcotics, including cocaine and cocaine base in south Louisiana. Agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began their investigation into this drug trafficking organization in 2018 through the use of controlled purchases of narcotics with confidential sources, as well as the interception of wire communications between the defendants in this organization, including Smith. Surveillance by law enforcement agents observed one of Smith’s co-conspirators, Shawn D. White, travel to Texas from Louisiana to obtain drugs from Smith at his residence and another residence in the Houston area. White departed Smith’s residence in Texas and upon crossing the state line back into Louisiana, was stopped for a traffic violation. During a search of his vehicle, officers found one kilogram of cocaine wrapped in cellophane, electrical tape, and in a vacuum sealed bag concealed inside the car. Smith admitted to knowingly and willfully making an agreement with White and others to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. Smith pleaded guilty to the charge on February 16, 2023.
The case was investigated by the DEA, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Louisiana State Police, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
These cases are part of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
In a separate case, Scotty Latiolais, 51, of Erath, Louisiana was sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 110 months (9 years, 2 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. This charge stems from a discovery made by a law enforcement agent of a firearm in an outside area near the residence of Latiolais wherein a search warrant had been executed the day before. On June 17, 2020, law enforcement officers executed an arrest warrant for Latiolais and a search warrant for his residence. When officers first encountered Latiolais on the property, he led them on a brief foot chase before being apprehended. During the subsequent search of his residence, officers found and seized suspected methamphetamine, a digital scale, and a Night Owl 16 channel digital video recorder (DVR). Officers obtained a search warrant for the DVR device and later found a video of Latiolais handling a pistol on the property. Latiolais pleaded guilty on February 2, 2023, and admitted to possessing the firearm on June 17, 2020, despite the fact that he has a prior felony conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in 2019 and knew that he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon.
# # #
Drug Traffickers Found with Large Quantities of Methamphetamine Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the resolution of two separate drug trafficking cases from the Monroe Division in the Western District of Louisiana today. Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced the following defendants:
Jacque Pierre Young, 30, of Arcadia, was sentenced to 324 months (27 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Agents with the Lincoln Parish Narcotics Enforcement Team obtained a search warrant for an apartment on East California Avenue in Ruston, Louisiana, based on evidence they had obtained. When officers arrived at the house, they found Young in a bedroom in the apartment. Inside that bedroom, agents found a total of 80 grams of methamphetamine, as well as 54 grams of crack cocaine. A loaded EAA Girsan MC28 9mm handgun was also located in an open storage bin in the bedroom. The narcotics were submitted to the DEA lab for testing and the results indicated the methamphetamine to be 97% pure and the crack cocaine to be 54 grams of cocaine base. Young admitted that the drugs and firearm belonged to him and that he intended to sell the drugs. He pleaded guilty to the charges on February 2, 2023.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Lincoln Parish Narcotics Enforcement Team, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Gaskins.
In a separate and unrelated case, Marianno Goldsmith, 37, and Thomas Boswell, 32, both of Florida, were each sentenced to 151 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Both defendants pleaded guilty in January 2023 to the charge. Evidence presented to the court revealed that on May 16, 2022, a trooper with the Louisiana State Police conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle on I-20 near Richland Parish which was being driven by Goldsmith and Boswell was the sole passenger. The traffic stop led to a search of the vehicle and law enforcement officers found two duffle bags in the trunk containing suspected methamphetamine. The narcotics were submitted to the lab for testing and the results confirmed that the substance was methamphetamine with a net weight of approximately 29,213 grams.
The case was investigated by the DEA and Louisiana State Police and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy.
# # #
West Monroe Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – Paul Anthony Lewis, 50, of West Monroe, was sentenced today on numerous drug trafficking charges, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge David C. Joseph sentenced Lewis to 240 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
Lewis was convicted by a jury in February of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl; and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl. Evidence introduced at trial revealed that agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Metro Narcotics Unit of Ouachita Parish began an investigation into the suspected drug trafficking activities of Lewis. While conducting surveillance of Lewis’ stash house, agents observed packages that were delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to that address. During a subsequent search of the house, law enforcement agents found large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, cocaine base also known as crack cocaine, and promethazine inside. In addition, Lewis used his telephone to negotiate drug trafficking transactions with unindicted co-conspirators in Texas and in the Western District of Louisiana.
“The choices of this defendant to continue to possess and distribute a buffet of illegal substances, even after having spent time in federal prison before, has resulted in him now spending the later years of his life behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon Br. Brown. “We continue to stand by our commitment to make it a priority in the Western District of Louisiana to have zero tolerance for those who choose to sell narcotics, especially the most dangerous narcotic of all, fentanyl.”
Lewis has a lengthy criminal history, including a federal conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base in the Eastern District of Louisiana in 2001 when he was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison.
The case was investigated by the DEA, Metro Narcotics Unit of Ouachita Parish, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Gaskins and Alexander C. Van Hook, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney.
# # #
Shreveport Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Fredarius D. Jackson, 25, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote for being a convicted felon in possession of firearms. Jackson was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
On May 29, 2021, Jackson was arrested outside of a residence on Dove Street in Shreveport by officers with the Shreveport Police Department. During his arrest, officers found Jackson to be in possession of a Taurus 9mm pistol, a TNW Firearms ASR rifle with a 50-round drum magazine and other ammunition. At the time of Jackson’s arrest, he was serving a period of state probation for a felony offense and knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) examined and tested the firearms and found them to be operational.
The case was investigated by the ATF and Shreveport Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael T. Shannon.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
# # #
Pineville Man Sentenced to 35 Years for Conspiracy to Commit Forced Labor and Transporting a Minor for Criminal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown of the Western District of Louisiana, and Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams, Jr. of the FBI New Orleans Field Office, announced that a Louisiana man was sentenced today to 35 years in prison for conspiracy to commit forced labor and transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution of $979,800 to the victims.
Between June 2016 and May 2019, Darnell Fulton, 39, of Pineville, used violence, sexual abuse, withholding of food, degradation, and intimidation to coerce multiple minors to work for his brownie baking business and provide him the profits. The defendant required the victims to travel to as many as 20 to 30 locations a day, such as plazas, car dealerships, law firms, restaurants, and parking lots, to sell brownies. The victims worked late into the night either selling or baking the brownies and sold them during the day. In fact, the victims typically worked seven days a week with very few breaks and had to meet a daily sales quota the defendant set. The defendant regularly assaulted the victims because he was not satisfied with their daily work performance, especially if they did not meet his projected sales daily quota. For example, the defendant frequently required the victims to stay in a push up or plank position for hours, and he often whipped them with a belt if they got out of proper form. The defendant also made the minor victims perform sexual acts with him and transported them across state lines to engage in criminal sexual activity with him.
“Forced labor, especially when it involves sexual abuse of children, violence, and mental and physical anguish, is heinous conduct that has no place in our society today. The defendant mercilessly exploited children for his own financial gain and personal gratification, and we will not tolerate it,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This sentence demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to standing up for the survivors of forced labor schemes. We will not only pursue and prosecute human and child traffickers, but also seek restitution and use those funds to help survivors rebuild and reclaim their lives.”
“The defendant’s actions in this case were deplorable and despicable,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown for the Western District of Louisiana. “Forced labor is a form of modern-day slavery and we have a duty to protect the most vulnerable of our society. He had no hesitation in torturing and demoralizing these victims, his own children. We are grateful for this sentence and hope that the victims can begin the healing process. This defendant is a danger to society, has no regard for human life, and we believe it is appropriate that he will be spending a long time in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.”
“Mr. Fulton’s guilty plea and the sentencing today should be of great comfort to the victims of his depravity,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams, Jr. of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “We thank our partners, the Alexandria Police Department, United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana, and DOJ’s Civil Rights Division for their assistance in this case. We will continue the work of rooting out those who seek to target minors for their own bizarre obsessions.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and Alexandria Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker for the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Maryam Zhuravitsky of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit in Washington, DC.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
# # #
United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown and Staff Mourn the Passing of Senior U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. JuneauRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown and the staff of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana mourn the passing of Senior United States District Court Judge Michael J. Juneau and issue the following statement:
“Judge Michael J. Juneau was a great American jurist and the consummate professional on and off the bench exhibiting textbook judicial temperament, especially when faced with tense situations during litigation. While in private practice, he was well known and respected throughout the state for being highly skilled in complex civil litigation. Although his time with us on the bench in the Western District of Louisiana was brief by Article III federal judge standards, it was impactful, and he will be missed. The employees of the Western District of Louisiana’s United States Attorney’s Office will keep his wife, Becky, and their children, lifted in prayer and our thoughts during this difficult time.”
# # #
City of Shreveport Law Enforcement and Community Leaders Meet to Continue Developing Strategies to Fight Violent Crime through Public Safety PartnershipRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that state, local, and federal law enforcement partners, along with other civic and community leaders from the Shreveport area held meetings this week to develop strategies together to help one another as the violent crime in the Shreveport area continues.
In October 2021, the City of Shreveport was chosen to participate in the National Public Safety Partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The national PSP initiative that the City of Shreveport is involved in provides an innovative framework to enhance federal support of state and local law enforcement and prosecution authorities to reduce violent crime. The City of Shreveport was chosen to participate after an application was made in an effort to assist these leaders to fight violent crime. The PSP is a three-year program that is designed to promote interagency coordination between law enforcement agencies and to support communities that struggle with levels of violent crime far in excess of the national average and that would benefit from the DOJ’s support in developing their own capacities.
This week’s PSP Strategic Planning meeting was an opportunity for civic and community leaders, along with local and state law enforcement, as well as federal and state prosecutors, to get together in one room and make a list of problems to address and work on strategies to address those problems. This is one of the steps in the PSP process whereby all of these leaders get together and discuss problems, plans for solutions and strategies to address them and is a cooperative effort of these groups to continue to combat violent crime in the Shreveport area.
“I am excited to take advantage of the law enforcement and non-law enforcement expertise, experience and extensiveness of the DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) through its PSP program,” stated U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “The application process of Shreveport being designated as a PSP city was a very competitive process and we, along with the District Attorney’s office, Shreveport Police Department, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, and our federal investigative agencies have been having law enforcement-based meetings with BJA for over a year leading up to this point. Now we’re ready for the next phase as we integrate relevant community partners such as Caddo Parish juvenile services, Shreveport city workforce development, Caddo Parish Schools, and other city/parish government related stakeholders. It is extremely refreshing to see the cohesion and support among our federal, state, and local partners as we proceed with formulating a violent crime prevention, rehabilitation and intervention approach going forward to supplement our law enforcement strategy.”
“The National Public Safety Partnership has assisted jurisdictions across America meet their most pressing violent crime challenges,” stated BJA’s Director Karhlton F. Moore. “This critical crime reduction program brings together components from across the Department of Justice to support local strategies designed to combat violent crime, strengthen communities, build bonds of trust, and deliver on the promise of public safety. The success of this program in Shreveport lies in the strong partnership between the community, Shreveport Police Department, United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance.”
Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith commented: “Our community faces unique challenges with regard to crimes as do other cities across the country. I am very encouraged and embrace the greater possibilities and opportunities brought about by partnerships with our federal, state, local and community stakeholders to work together collaboratively and combine resources to improve the quality of life in Shreveport. We are much stronger together and this strategic planning session has helped all of us to establish agreed upon direction moving forward, along with strategies and action plans to accomplish a specific goal, which is safety in our community. I am eternally grateful to everyone that participated in this two-day strategic planning session for the Shreveport community.”
Caddo Parish Commissioner Stormy Gage-Watts stated: “Since receiving the award in 2021, we have worked collaboratively for solutions to improve our violent crime related issues. This opportunity has led us to develop and expand plans with our community stakeholders through prevention and implementation strategies. We are at a pivotal point in our history where we must maximize our strengths and acknowledge our challenges. Our mission is to make our communities safer by reducing our current statistics and providing hope for our future generations.”
Agencies in attendance at this week’s meetings included representatives from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Shreveport Police Department, Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux, select Department Heads from the City of Shreveport, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office, Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, Caddo Parish Commission, Shreveport Fire Department, Shreveport City Marshal, Caddo Parish School Board Security, Louisiana State Police, Ochsner LSU, FBI, ATF, DEA, and U.S. Marshal Service.
Regular monthly meetings will be held with these agencies and civic and community groups to address violent crime strategies from a law enforcement standpoint and a non-law enforcement standpoint. Some of the strategies include rehabilitation efforts and reentry of offenders back into the community.
In addition to leadership from local and federal partners, DOJ dedicates specific individuals to support each PSP site throughout the three-year engagement, to include a retired law enforcement executive, a DOJ Program Office Champion to serve as the point of contact for the site, federal law enforcement partners, and a program advisor. PSP federal law enforcement partners include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS).
PSP serves as a Department of Justice Department initiative that enables communities to receive coordinated training and technical assistance and an array of resources from the Department’s programmatic and law enforcement components. In addition to Shreveport, Louisiana, the other sites that were selected included: Antioch, California; Aurora, Colorado; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Gary, Indiana; Louisville, Kentucky; North Charleston/ Charleston, South Carolina; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Phoenix, Arizona; and Richmond, Virginia.
# # #
Defendants Convicted on Child Pornography Charges Receive Lengthy Prison SentencesRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Two men convicted of receipt of child pornography appeared in federal court today for sentencing, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced Terrence Landry and Steven M. Stinnett as follows:
Terrence Landry, 34, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was sentenced to 210 months (17 years, 6 months) in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. In May 2020, agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation received a complaint from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the possible distribution of child pornography originating in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Further investigation by agents revealed that the subscriber of the IP address associated with the images of child pornography was Landry. Agents obtained a search warrant and subsequently searched the residence of Landry. Numerous computers and electronic equipment belonging to Landry were seized and analyzed by law enforcement. Agents determined that those electronic devices contained over 5,000 still images and more than 400 videos containing child pornography, some of which depicted prepubescent children engaged in sexual activity with adults. Landry admitted to receiving specific images via the internet in May 2016, knowing that they contained child pornography. Landry pleaded guilty to the charge of receipt of child pornography on April 13, 2022.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon.
Steven M. Stinnett, 51, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, a former associate professor at McNeese State University, was sentenced to 151 months (12 years, 7 months) in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. On November 17, 2022, law enforcement officers in Calcasieu Parish executed a search warrant at the residence of Stinnett. Officers seized computers and electronic equipment during the search. Agents with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations conducted a forensic review of Stinnett’s computer and found numerous images and videos containing child sexual abuse material. Stinnett admitted that one of the child pornography images was received via the internet in April 2017 and depicted a prepubescent female in a sexually explicit manner. Stinnett admitted to having 228 still images and 57 videos containing child sexual abuse material in his possession. Stinnett pleaded guilty to a charge of receipt of child pornography on February 3, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and McNeese State University Police and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon.
These cases are part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
# # #
Two Shreveport Men Guilty of Illegal Possession of Drugs and Firearms Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that two men from Shreveport were sentenced today by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote for illegally possessing drugs and firearms.
Eric Lamar Wimbley, 51, was sentenced to 168 months (14 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. On April 13, 2022, officers with the Louisiana Division of Probation and Parole and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted a parole search of a vehicle being used by Wimbley. While searching the vehicle, officers found approximately 1.320 grams of cocaine, 107.7 grams of cocaine base, and 125.67 grams of methamphetamine-based tablets, all packaged for distribution. Also inside the vehicle was a bag containing digital scales, razor blades with cocaine residue, packaging material, and a loaded 9mm handgun. Officers also found Wimbley to be in possession of the key fob to the vehicle. He was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm. Wimbley pleaded guilty in December 2022 to possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon.
In a separate case, Demetrius Johnson, Jr., 23, was sentenced to 66 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for illegal possession of marijuana and a firearm. On March 14, 2022, officers with the Shreveport Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle being driven by Johnson. When approaching the vehicle, the officer detected the smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle and detained Johnson. A K-9 unit was called and alerted to the front driver’s seat and a search of the vehicle was conducted. During the search, officers located a Century Arms Draco pistol under the passenger seat of his vehicle, as well as a backpack containing approximately 200 grams of marijuana in separate bags, packaging material, and a digital scale. A 9mm Glock magazine was also found in the vehicle. The narcotics were sent to the crime laboratory for testing and was confirmed to be marijuana. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) tested the firearm and it was determined to be a functional firearm which had traveled in interstate commerce.
The case was investigated by the ATF and Shreveport Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford.
# # #
Monroe Man Sentenced for $1.1 Million COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. - Michael Ansezell Tolliver, 57, of Monroe, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty for money laundering in connection with a fraudulent scheme to obtain more than $1.1 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program loans. Tolliver was sentenced to 120 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. In addition, Tolliver was ordered to pay $1,114,724 in restitution.
“The significant sentence handed down today demonstrates that those who steal from COVID-19 relief programs for personal gain will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We remain committed to rooting out bad actors who took advantage of federal programs meant to help those small businesses truly in need.”
“This defendant stole over $1 million through fraudulent means and used those funds to support his own personal lifestyle, taking from those whose legitimate businesses were suffering from losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “Federal programs such as these are set up to help those in need, not to benefit those who do not. It is a priority for our office to prosecute those who obtain these benefits illegally. We look forward to continued collaboration with the DOJ’s fraud section in aggressively investigating similar crimes related to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In December 2022, Tolliver pled guilty to one count of money laundering. According to court documents, Tolliver submitted nine fraudulent PPP and EIDL Program loan applications on behalf of several purported companies that Tolliver owned, including Tolliver Oil & Gas Corporation of Louisiana, Inc. and Tolliver Petroleum Corporation of Louisiana. Tolliver falsified information in the loan applications and supporting documents, including falsely claiming that some of his businesses had over 100 employees. He also submitted falsified federal tax returns.
“Mr. Tolliver chose greed over compassion by fraudulently obtaining funds from the PPP and EIDL programs established to assist employers severely impacted by the pandemic,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Tolliver’s sentence today should stand as a warning to those who fraudulently received or may have attempted to fraudulently receive funds intended to help businesses during the COVID epidemic.”
“This result reveals the excellence achieved through the combined efforts of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to uncover and forcefully respond to PPP and EIDL fraud,” said Special Counsel Peggy Delinois Hamilton of the SBA. “SBA is strongly committed to identifying and aggressively pursuing instances of fraud perpetrated by those who took advantage of small business emergency relief programs. We applaud the work that our law enforcement partners have done to ensure fraudsters are held accountable.”
In total, Tolliver sought more than $7.6 million in PPP and EIDL Program loans and obtained more than $1.1 million. Tolliver then laundered and misused the loan proceeds, including by transferring the funds to personal bank accounts and purchasing luxury goods. Authorities seized approximately $128,500 from bank accounts, as well as a 2020 Cadillac CT5 sedan, a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 truck, two Tissot watches, two Tag Heuer watches, and three Honda all-terrain vehicles.
The case was investigated by the IRS-CI and SBA and prosecuted by Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana.
The Fraud Section leads the department’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the PPP began, Fraud Section attorneys have prosecuted more than 100 defendants in more than 70 criminal cases. The Fraud Section has also seized more than $65 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/ppp-fraud.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866‑720‑5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
# # #
Man Sentenced for $1.1M COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Louisiana man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for money laundering in connection with a fraudulent scheme to obtain more than $1.1 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program loans.
“The significant sentence handed down today demonstrates that those who steal from COVID-19 relief programs for personal gain will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We remain committed to rooting out bad actors who took advantage of federal programs meant to help those small businesses truly in need.”
“This defendant stole over $1 million through fraudulent means and used those funds to support his own personal lifestyle, taking from those whose legitimate businesses were suffering from losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown for the Western District of Louisiana. “Federal programs such as these are set up to help those in need, not to benefit fraudsters. It is a priority for our office to prosecute those who obtain these benefits illegally. We look forward to continued collaboration with the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section in aggressively investigating similar crimes related to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
According to court documents, Michael Ansezell Tolliver, 57, of Monroe, submitted nine fraudulent PPP and EIDL Program loan applications on behalf of several purported companies that Tolliver owned, including Tolliver Oil & Gas Corporation of Louisiana Inc. and Tolliver Petroleum Corporation of Louisiana. Tolliver falsified information in the loan applications and supporting documents, including falsely claiming that some of his businesses had over 100 employees. He also submitted falsified federal tax returns.
“Mr. Tolliver chose greed over compassion by fraudulently obtaining funds from the PPP and EIDL programs established to assist employers severely impacted by the pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Atlanta Field Office. “Tolliver’s sentence today should stand as a warning to those who fraudulently received or may have attempted to fraudulently receive funds intended to help businesses during the COVID epidemic.”
“This result reveals the excellence achieved through the combined efforts of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to uncover and forcefully respond to PPP and EIDL fraud,” said Special Counsel Peggy Delinois Hamilton of the SBA. “SBA is strongly committed to identifying and aggressively pursuing instances of fraud perpetrated by those who took advantage of small business emergency relief programs. We applaud the work that our law enforcement partners have done to ensure fraudsters are held accountable.”
In total, Tolliver sought more than $7.6 million in PPP and EIDL Program loans and obtained more than $1.1 million. Tolliver then laundered and misused the loan proceeds, including by transferring the funds to personal bank accounts and purchasing luxury goods. Authorities seized approximately $128,500 from bank accounts, as well as a 2020 Cadillac CT5 sedan, a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 truck, two Tissot watches, two Tag Heuer watches, and three Honda all-terrain vehicles.
The IRS-CI and SBA investigated the case.
Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg for the Western District of Louisiana prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 200 defendants in more than 130 criminal cases and has seized over $78 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/ppp-fraud.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866‑720‑5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Former Lafayette and Vermilion Parish Educator Arrested on Federal Criminal ComplaintRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Jacob Conrad De La Paz is in federal custody pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by United States Magistrate Judge David J. Ayo on a federal criminal complaint for attempted production of child pornography. An initial appearance will be held in the John M. Shaw United States Courthouse on May 1, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. He has been held without bond.
Following the initial appearance, a detention hearing will be held later in the week and the government will argue that De La Paz be held without bond pending a formal charging decision and possible presentment of the case to a federal grand jury. Pursuant to federal law, this must take place within 30 days of the arrest date and the government will continue its investigation, while evaluating all evidence.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact HSI at 337-262-6619.
# # #
Elizabeth, LA Man Sentenced to Prison for Committing Bankruptcy Fraud and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. - Joseph Randall Boswell, Sr., 53, of Elizabeth, Louisiana, was sentenced yesterday for committing bankruptcy fraud and tax evasion, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced Boswell to 60 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Judge Cain ordered that a hearing be held on June 27, 2023, to determine restitution.
Boswell was convicted of these crimes by a federal jury in Lake Charles on September 19, 2022. Evidence presented at the trial established that Boswell knowingly and fraudulently concealed property from the United States Bankruptcy Trustee and his creditors through his Chapter 7 Bankruptcy case which he filed in September 2011. Specifically, Boswell concealed monies earned from nominee business and service contracts that could have been paid to his creditors. He attempted to defraud the government by withholding information from the Bankruptcy Court regarding the amount of income he was actually making and property he had an interest in. The defendant was self-employed and withheld information from the court as to companies that he had control of through other family members. These companies were established in the names of other family members in an attempt to hide the fact that Boswell was controlling and manipulating the business activities for these companies and earning income through contracts negotiated by him.
Boswell was also convicted of attempting to evade and defeat payment of income taxes due and owing by him for the tax years 2001 through 2009. He concealed assets from the Internal Revenue Service by putting them in the names of other family members in order to avoid paying income taxes owed by him of over $597,000.
“This defendant spent years of his life finding ways to avoid paying taxes and creditors that he borrowed money from through his web of lies and deception,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “The agents and attorneys handling this case worked countless hours to untangle that web of lies that he wove, and I commend them for their tireless work in bringing him to justice. The bankruptcy and tax laws which have been established in this nation must be obeyed and we will continue to hold those who choose not to do that accountable.”
“Bankruptcy laws are in place to provide debtors a fresh start when they are honestly unable to pay their debts and obligations,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Boswell used these laws to avoid paying his creditors and taxes although he had the resources. His sentence today should be a warning to those seeking to fraudulently use bankruptcy laws to avoid paying their creditors.”
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the United States Trustee’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cytheria D. Jernigan and Earl M. Campbell.
# # #
United States Settles Claims for Improper Inpatient Rehabilitation Admissions for over $1.7 MillionRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Lafayette Physical Rehabilitation Hospital and its management company, Acadiana Management Group, LLC have agreed to pay $1.2 million, and Dr. Carolyn Smith agreed to pay $575,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary inpatient rehabilitation services.
“This settlement demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that those who participate in federal healthcare programs follow the rules,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “Billing for non-covered rehabilitation hospital stays results in a misuse of federal dollars. The financial viability of our Medicare program must be protected for current and future generations.”
The United States alleged that from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2016, Dr. Smith admitted certain patients to Lafayette Physical Rehabilitation Hospital for whom inpatient rehabilitation treatment was not medically reasonable or necessary. Dr. Smith repeatedly admitted these patients, often by putting improper pressure on the patients, and falsely certified that the patients met the applicable criteria for inpatient admission. However, the patients did not satisfy the criteria and did not need impatient rehabilitation services.
“The Department Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) will continue to aggressively investigate health care providers who submit Medicare claims for medically unnecessary services,” said HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Jason Meadows. “Inpatient rehabilitation services are expensive, and Medicare dollars should be reserved for patients who need those services - not hospitals and physicians seeking to make easy money through improper billing.”
This civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistle blower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The whistleblowers, Tamara Boyd and Nancy Morrill, former employees of LPRH, will receive over 20% of the settlement amount.
The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana and HHS-OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Theriot and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Edwards handled the litigation, along with HHS-OIG Special Agent Rita Bergeron. Special Agent Bergeron and Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen King handled the investigation.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
# # #
Natchitoches Man Convicted by Federal Jury of Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Louis Vernon Jackson, 38, of Natchitoches, Louisiana, was convicted by a federal jury late yesterday, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty presided over the four-day trial in Alexandria. Jackson was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of firearms, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The jury acquitted Jackson of one count of possession with intent to distribute tramadol and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to evidence presented during trial, Vernon was involved in a drug trafficking conspiracy with seven other co-defendants between December 1, 2019, through at least May 13, 2020. Agents began an investigation into these illegal drug trafficking activities of Jackson and his co-defendants. On April 16, 2020, while conducting surveillance, agents observed Jackson meet an individual at a Natchitoches motel and suspected them of selling drugs from this location. Jackson and the individual left in his vehicle and were subsequently stopped by law enforcement. Agents found keys to a room at the motel on Jackson’s person. Further investigation led to a search warrant being issued for the motel room and agents found a Marlin rifle, a loaded SCCY 9mm pistol, loaded extended magazines and ammunition inside the motel room. As a convicted felon, Jackson was prohibited from having any firearm or ammunition in his possession.
After his release on bond from the Natchitoches incident, on May 13, 2020, agents conducted surveillance of a hotel in the Alexandria area and observed Jackson at the hotel. Agents executed a search warrant of Jackson’s hotel room and found a large amount of methamphetamine and a digital scale, as well as over $11,000 in cash.
The remaining seven co-defendants have each pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in subsequent proceedings.
“This was the culmination of an investigation that spanned multiple federal districts from Louisiana to Mississippi, and we are grateful for this joint investigation and the jury’s work in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “This defendant has a history of selling illegal narcotics which will result in a sentencing enhancement. We look forward to the anticipated sentencing hearing where each of the defendants in this case will be held accountable for their actions. We will not tolerate the distribution of methamphetamine and illegal firearm possession in the Western District of Louisiana.”
Jackson faces a minimum sentence of 15 years up to life in prison on each of the drug charges due to a sentencing enhancement based on his past criminal history. He also faces up to 10 years in prison on the firearms charge, a total of up to 15 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $20,000,000.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Bureau of Prisons, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office and Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cytheria D. Jernigan and Brian C. Flanagan.
# # #
The Justice Department Announces Nationwide Coordinated Law Enforcement Action to Combat COVID-19 Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown joins with the Department of Justice in announcing criminal charges against 18 defendants in 9 federal districts across the United States for their alleged participation in various fraud schemes involving health care services that exploited the COVID-19 pandemic and allegedly resulted in over $490 million in COVID-19 related false billings to federal programs and theft from federally-funded pandemic programs.
In connection with the enforcement action, the department seized over $16 million in cash and other fraud proceeds. The Center for Program Integrity of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CPI/CMS) separately announced today that it took adverse administrative actions in the last year against an additional 28 medical providers for their alleged involvement in COVID-19 schemes.
U.S. Attorney Brown announced that Shaquaila Lewis, a/k/a Shaquaila Lewis-Chatman, 35, of Gibsland, Louisiana, was charged in the Western District of Louisiana by indictment with wire fraud and money laundering in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain over $1.1 million in funds under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), which were low-interest financing to small businesses, renters and homeowners in regions affected by declared disasters. According to the indictment, Lewis, a registered nurse, caused the submission of numerous fraudulent loan applications that contained false statements regarding a purported business and the intended use of the loan funds. The funds were allegedly used for personal expenses, such as gambling and contracting work on her home. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard of the Gulf Coast Strike Force and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana.
“The COVID-19 pandemic brought hardships to many American citizens and those who have chosen to abuse the assistance that was provided is appalling,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “We will continue to join with our federal and state and local partners to investigate and prosecute any who may have defrauded the government through these programs that were offered to help people.”
“The Justice Department will not tolerate those who exploited the pandemic for personal gain and stole taxpayer dollars,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This unprecedented enforcement action against defendants across the country makes clear that the Department is using every available resource to combat and prevent COVID-19 related fraud and safeguard the integrity of taxpayer-funded programs.”
“Today’s announcement marks the largest-ever coordinated law enforcement action in the United States targeting health care fraud schemes that exploit the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. “The Criminal Division’s Health Care Fraud Unit and our partners are committed to putting an end to pandemic-related fraud and holding accountable anyone seeking to profit from a public health emergency.”
The announcement today builds on the successes of the April 2022 COVID-19 Enforcement Action and the May 2021 COVID-19 Enforcement Action and involves the prosecution of various COVID-19 health care fraud schemes. In one of the most significant types of COVID-19 health care fraud scheme announced today, multiple defendants were charged with defrauding the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) COVID-19 Uninsured Program.
The announcement also includes first-of-its-kind charges against suppliers of COVID-19 over-the-counter tests, which Medicare began to cover in April 2022 for beneficiaries who requested the tests. These kits were provided to the public to slow the spread of a deadly disease, but wrongdoers allegedly sought to exploit the program by repeatedly supplying patients, or, in some instances, deceased patients, with dozens of COVID-19 tests that they did not want or need.
Charges were also brought under the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Initiative. The PRF is part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a federal law enacted in March 2020 that provided financial assistance to medical providers to provide needed medical care to Americans suffering from COVID-19.
Today’s enforcement action was led and coordinated by Assistant Chiefs Justin M. Woodard and Debra Jaroslawicz and Trial Attorney D. Keith Clouser of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. The Health Care Fraud Unit’s Strike Forces in Brooklyn, the Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, and Tampa; the National Rapid Response Strike Force; and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Central District of California, Middle District of Florida, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, Western District of Louisiana, Eastern District of New York, District of Puerto Rico, District of Utah, and Western District of Washington are prosecuting these cases, with assistance from the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Data Analytics Team. Descriptions of each case involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the department’s website at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit/2023-case-summaries.
Other agencies involved are the FBI and HHS-OIG, the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, AMTRAK Office of Inspector General, California Department of Health Care Services, and other federal and state law enforcement agencies across the nation.
The Health Care Fraud Strike Force is part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and HHS to prevent and deter health care fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. In the past three years, the Health Care Fraud Strike Force has rooted out health care fraud related to the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, 53 defendants have been charged in nationwide COVID-19 Health Care Fraud Enforcement Actions for causing over $784 million in loss associated with the pandemic, and 20 defendants have been convicted.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
The Department of Justice needs the public’s assistance in remaining vigilant and reporting suspected fraudulent activity. To report suspected fraud, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) at (866) 720-5721 or file an online complaint at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. Complaints filed will be reviewed at the NCDF and referred to federal, state, local, or international law enforcement or regulatory agencies for investigation.
An indictment, complaint, or information is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
# # #
Four Defendants Convicted of Trafficking Fentanyl, Methamphetamine and Cocaine Receive Sentences Totaling over 43 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES/LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that four defendants received lengthy sentences today for their participation in the trafficking of narcotics in the Lake Charles and Lafayette areas. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced two of the defendants in Lake Charles as follows:
Christopher Wayne Jones, II, 29, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was sentenced to 175 months (14 years, 7 months) in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release for possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl. On November 4, 2020, while patrolling an area near 18th Street in Lake Charles, Louisiana, an officer with the Lake Charles Police Department observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. The officer activated his emergency lights and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle, later determined to be Jones, fled at a high rate of speed. After a short chase, Jones lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway, and struck a utility pole. Jones exited the vehicle holding a red backpack and fled the scene on foot. Officers gave chase and Jones was apprehended shortly thereafter and placed under arrest. After a brief search, officers found the red backpack that Jones had been carrying in a nearby backyard. Inside the backpack officers found approximately 554 pills which weighed approximately 282 grams. Lab reports revealed that the pills contained a mixture of acetaminophen and fentanyl. In addition to the narcotics found in Jones’ backpack, officers also found a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol in the front seat of his vehicle. Jones pleaded guilty to the charge on December 12, 2022. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and Lake Charles Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
Michael Javel Toefield, 52, of Baytown, Texas, was sentenced to 130 months (10 years, 10 months) in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On May 13, 2019, officers with the Calcasieu Parish Combined Anti-Drug Task Force, Criminal Patrol Unit, conducted a traffic stop on May 13, 2019, of a vehicle which was driven by Toefield. A K-9 officer positively alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle and officers began a search. During the search of the vehicle, officers discovered a white bag containing a cardboard Ultra beer box and inside were two clear plastic tubs containing over 500 grams of methamphetamine. Toefield admitted to knowing the drugs were hidden inside the box and pleaded guilty to the charge on November 12, 2022. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Calcasieu Parish Combined Anti-Drug Task Force and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced the following two defendants in Lafayette today:
Shane Christopher Malveaux, 51, of Eunice, Louisiana, was sentenced to 100 months (8 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiring with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. Malveaux pleaded guilty to the charge on November 29, 2022. According to information introduced in court, Malveaux was involved in a drug trafficking conspiracy with others from August 2019 until January 2021. Agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began an investigation into their organization and conducted controlled purchases from Malveaux’s co-conspirators. In addition, agents intercepted electronic communications between Malveaux and his co-conspirator, Shawn White, in which he purchased both powder cocaine and cocaine base from White on multiple occasions. Agents conducted physical and electronic surveillance of Malveaux and his drug trafficking activities, and he was charged with participating in the drug trafficking conspiracy. The case was investigated by the DEA, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and Louisiana State Police and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
Dallas Prejean, 60, of Lafayette, Louisiana, was sentenced to 113 months (9 years, 5 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Prejean was involved in a drug trafficking conspiracy with several others and was charged in an indictment in October 2019. Through their investigation using physical and electronic surveillance of Prejean and his co-defendants, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) obtained evidence to secure a search warrant for a residence occupied by Prejean in Rayne, Louisiana. Agents found numerous firearms and large amounts of narcotics and other drug paraphernalia in the residence. Prejean admitted possession of the items to agents and pleaded guilty to the charge on October 13, 2021. The case was investigated by the FBI, DEA and Louisiana State Police and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Nickel.
# # #
Pharmacy Student and Pharmacist Indicted by Grand JuryRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a pharmacy student and a licensed pharmacist with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, obtaining controlled substances by fraud, and distribution of a controlled substance.
The indictment charges Blair Guillory, 25, a pharmacy student at a university located in Monroe, Louisiana, and Brian Miller, 37, a licensed pharmacist who worked in pharmacies in Monroe and Ruston, Louisiana. The indictment alleges that beginning on or about June 11, 2022 and continuing until December 16, 2022, in the Western District of Louisiana, Guillory and Miller knowingly and intentionally conspired together to distribute Adderall and Vyvanse, both Schedule II controlled substances.
It is alleged in the indictment that Guillory received part of his education and training while working at Monroe area pharmacies, including one where Miller worked, and that is where they met. According to the indictment, Miller would see a medical provider to obtain prescriptions for Adderall and Vyvanse and would sell all or a portion of the drugs to Guillory, knowing that Guillory was going to sell the drugs to other individuals. In addition, it is alleged that Guillory would also see a medical provider to obtain prescriptions for Adderall and would sell all or a portion of the drugs to other individuals.
The indictment further alleges that Guillory would obtain prescription drugs from others and sell those drugs to students at the university where he attended pharmacy school in Monroe. Guillory would allegedly use Venmo and other mobile payment services to purchase and sell Schedule II controlled substances.
"Americans rely on pharmacies every day to legally dispense prescription medication to whom it is intended,” stated U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “This region is also blessed to have a pharmacy school. Persons who are fortunate enough to work as pharmacists and those who have the chance to study pharmacy should not abuse these privileges. We allege that these persons acted illegally and look forward to proceeding with this case through the judicial process."
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, Guillory and Miller face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and is being prosecuted by Alexander C. Van Hook, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney.
# # #
Two Defendants in Separate Cases Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child Pornography and Illegal Possession of Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the resolution of two cases in the Lafayette Division of the Western District of Louisiana. United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced the following individuals yesterday:
Charles Dirk Lafleur, 56, of Ville Platte, Louisiana, was sentenced to 78 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of child pornography. The charges in this case stem from an investigation by an agent with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Cyber Crimes Unit after a Cyber Tip Line Report was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The report identified the upload of an image containing child pornography to a Microsoft OneDrive account and identified the unique user information associated with that account. Their investigation revealed that the image did in fact contain child pornography and a search warrant was obtained for the Microsoft OneDrive account. The search warrant identified the account user as Lafleur. After further investigation, another search warrant was obtained for Lafleur’s residence and was executed by law enforcement agents on November 7, 2018. Agents recovered eight of Lafleur’s electronic devices, which were analyzed and found to contain images and videos depicting child pornography, including depictions of pornography involving prepubescent minors under 12 years of age. Lafleur was charged and pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on October 12, 2022.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Cyber Crimes Unit and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon.
In a separate and unrelated case, Nathan Zenon, Jr., 39, of Youngsville, was sentenced by to 68 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegal possession of a firearm. On May 10, 2017, deputies with the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office observed Zenon enter a residence in Youngsville and attempted to serve him with an outstanding arrest warrant at the residence. After his arrest, Zenon admitted to deputies that he had marijuana in his vehicle and gave consent to search. Deputies recovered two small bags of marijuana, a digital scale, and a magazine for a .45 caliber firearm loaded with six rounds of ammunition. A search warrant was obtained to search the residence and inside deputies found a loaded Springfield 9mm pistol in the bedroom. A DNA analysis confirmed that Zenon could not be excluded as a contributor to the firearm. In addition, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) tested the firearm and found it to be functional and manufactured in Croatia and imported via Illinois, thus having been transported in interstate commerce. Zenon has prior felony convictions for possession of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana (2006), and knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. He pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on November 7, 2022.
The case was investigated by the ATF and Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon.
# # #
Illegal Possession of a Firearm Sends Ruston Man to PrisonRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Howard Demartae Jackson, 27, of Ruston, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty to 170 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to evidence presented to the court, on or about May 25, 2022 while on patrol, an officer with the Ruston Police Department observed a man with a brown shoulder bag standing near the driver’s side of a vehicle near a gas station. The officer was suspicious of the activity and ran the license plate on the vehicle and learned that the driver’s license of the vehicle’s registered owner was suspended. The officer conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle and the driver was confirmed to be the registered owner and she admitted that her license was suspended. Howard Jackson was identified as the passenger in the vehicle with the female. The officer detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside and a search of the vehicle was conducted. Officers and found Jackson with a shoulder bag containing a loaded Smith and Wesson 40 caliber pistol, methamphetamine, marijuana, oxycodone, alprazolam, MDMA, plastic baggies, and a digital scale.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) examined and tested the firearm and found it to have been manufactured in Massachusetts and therefore traveled in interstate commerce. Jackson is a convicted felon with prior felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute both Schedule II and III controlled substances in 2020 and knew that he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. Jackson pleaded guilty to the charges on November 28, 2022.
The case was investigated by the DEA, ATF and Ruston Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy.
# # #
Former Hospice Care Owner Convicted of Defrauding MedicareRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – A federal jury has returned a guilty verdict against Kristal Glover-Wing, 50, of Broussard, Louisiana, for one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and three counts of health care fraud following a trial that lasted nearly four weeks, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. Dr. Gary M. Wiltz and Dr. Charles H. Louis were each acquitted on their charges in the indictment. Judge Robert R. Summerhays presided over the trial.
Glover-Wing was the owner of Angel Care Hospice (“Angel Care”), a Louisiana corporation that purported to provide hospice services in Lafayette Parish and other parishes in the Western District of Louisiana. Through evidence presented at trial, jurors learned that from approximately 2009 through 2017, over 24 patients were placed on hospice by Angel Care without meeting the criteria required by Medicare. During the time period that the patients were on hospice and under the care and supervision of Angel Care, none of them had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. In fact, many of the patients themselves, who are still alive and thriving many years later, as well as family members of other patients, testified that they never knew that they had been placed on hospice. The testimony revealed that while on hospice care, many of the patients were living normal lives and although most of them did have medical conditions, none had been diagnosed as being terminally ill. The fraudulent claims submitted to Medicare and reimbursed to Angel Care resulted in a loss of approximately $1,539,161.10 to Medicare.
“Krystal Glover-Wing defrauded the government and we thank the jury for holding her accountable. We will now move forward to her sentencing hearing,” stated U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “I thank the trial team and investigators for staying the course throughout years of investigating and a hard-fought trial. Although the doctors in this case were ultimately acquitted, we as prosecutors present the facts to a federal grand jury when we truly believe there has been a violation of federal law that we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Furthermore, if the grand jury decides to indict, we are not afraid to proceed to trial and give a federal trial jury the chance to ultimately decide someone’s guilt or innocence based on the evidence that we have. The verdict rendered in this case is evidence that the system can be just, fair and the trial jury has the ultimate prerogative to convict or acquit.”
“Whenever Medicare providers are motivated by greed, our most vulnerable citizens, the elderly, are put at risk,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeff Richards of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG agents will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate providers who loot the Medicare Trust Fund.”
Glover-Wing faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to commit health care fraud charge, up to 10 years in prison on the health care fraud charges, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly P. Uebinger, Danny Siefker, and Lauren L. Gardner.
# # #
Opelousas Man Sentenced for Distribution of FentanylRead the Press Release
OPELOUSAS, LA - Elijah Jones, 31 has been sentenced by United States District Court Judge David Joseph to 51 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, as a result of a conviction for violation of one (1) count of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(l) punishable by 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(b)(l)(C) – Distribution of Fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown.
On June 25, 2021, agents working in an undercover capacity negotiated a purchase suspected heroin from Elijah Jones. Agents contacted Jones via telephone to set up the transaction at the Cajun Fire Casino & Truck Stop in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. Jones asked Agents to sit in his truck with him while they talked business and completed the heroin transaction. Jones agreed to selling a half-ounce of heroin and began to weigh and package the narcotics in a clear sandwich bag. Agents were able to purchase and executed three (3) different controlled buys of suspected heroin from Elijah Jones. Jones completed one transaction by placing the narcotics in Girard Park in Lafayette, Louisiana. The suspected heroin from all three purchases were sent to the Acadiana Crime Lab for analysis. Two reports indicate that the alleged heroin was in fact fentanyl. The third report indicate the substance is a mixture of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. Elijah Jones was sentenced to 51 months custody followed by 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay a fine of $10,000.00.
This case was investigated by FBI, ATF, St. Martin Sheriff’s Office, and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy.
Man Convicted of Alexandria and Monroe Bombings Gets SentencedRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, LA – Daniel Aikens, 40, of Alexandria, Louisiana, was sentenced March 28, 2023, to 16 years in prison for 8 counts of illegal explosive related charges by United States Senior District Judge Dee D. Drell announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. On November 18, 2022, the jury found Aikens guilty of 3 counts of Making a Destructive Device, 3 counts of Possession of a Destructive Device in violation of the NFA, 1 count of Use of an Explosive to Commit a Federal Felony and 1 count of Conveying Malicious False Information.
The government presented evidence at trial that on September 12, 2019, an explosion occurred at Cloyd’s Beauty School in Monroe, Louisiana. The victim was placing boxes inside a commercial garbage can when the explosion occurred and sustained burns on his hands and face. Remnants of the device were collected by agents for analysis by the ATF laboratory and found to contain a rocket motor commonly sold at hobby stores and a pressure cooker. Law enforcement was unable to identify a suspect at the time but obtained video footage from Hobby Lobby in West Monroe, LA showing a black male purchasing a rocket motor two days before the explosion. Agents also collected numerous items for DNA analysis, including a piece of tape located on the device. Further, on December 20, 2019, officers responded to reports of an explosion at a Texaco gas station located in Alexandria, Louisiana. 911 dispatch operators received a call from an unknown male caller advising that an explosion had occurred.
On the morning of January 2, 2020, an employee at the Payday Today located on MacArthur Drive, Alexandria, Louisiana received a phone call from cell phone number 716-563-4031. The caller initially spoke with an employee about a set of lost keys. While the employee was in the parking lot looking for the keys, an explosive device detonated in a trash can near the building. The caller advised that he caused the explosion and demanded $10,000 in cash. The caller further advised that there was second device on the scene, and he would cause it to detonate if the employee did not comply. The caller then recited the employee’s home address and explained that he knew that she had three children. He then threatened to kill her and her family if she did not comply. The caller then asked why the employee was going there instead of the bank. This led the employee to believe that the caller was nearby and observing her actions. The employee advised the caller that she needed a bottle of water, but once inside the store, she panicked, and the call was disconnected. The employee ultimately did not provide any money to the bomber. Among the blast debris collected from the scene, investigators located metal pipe fragments, which is indicative of a pipe bomb detonation.
During the investigation, law enforcement contacted employees at a nearby gas station. The gas station is within approximately 400 feet of Payday Today and was determined to be an ideal overwatch location to observe any activity at PayDay Today. Surveillance footage retrieved from the gas station showed a white Jeep Cherokee at the location. A tall unidentified black male entered the store and made a small purchase, shortly before the explosion and call at PayDay Today. Surveillance footage even showed the male looking in the direction of PayDay Today while inside the store on the telephone. A BOLO alert was provided to Alexandria area law enforcement, with screen captures of a white Jeep Cherokee taken from the gas station and other businesses near the Payday Today bombing. 4 days later, the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office located the Jeep Cherokee and initiated a traffic stop. The driver was identified as Daniel Aikens and matched the description of the subject that was present at the gas station shortly before the explosion. Investigators also secured a search warrant for Aikens’ home and pursuant to the search, observed damage in the kitchen area consistent with a blast and located what appeared to be fragments of galvanized pipe and blast debris indicative of a pipe bomb detonation.
When arresting Aikens, agents secured his cellular telephone and discovered that he had been communicating with a friend via text message concerning the Monroe bombing. Agents later interviewed this friend and the friend stated that Aikens communicated with him after the Monroe and Texaco bombings. He even stated that Aikens called him on the morning of the explosion from his personal cell phone and allowed him to listen in as he called Payday Today from the “bomb phone.” Forensic examination of Aikens’ personal cell phone revealed Google Street View images of the Ferrand Street area near Cloyd’s Beauty School in Monroe, Louisiana. The phone’s web history showed a search for “how to build a pressure cooker bomb” and included a possible pdf download. A piece of black electrical tape was recovered from the pressure cooker device and found to contain a mixture of a known DNA profile found to be 1 trillion times more likely to have originated from Aikens. Cell phone and 911 records confirmed that the “bomb phone” was also used to call emergency services during the Texaco explosion on December 20, 2019. The 911 recording depicts a male caller (who law enforcement identified as Aikens) advising that he was passing by, there was an explosion, and requests law enforcement. Location data from Aikens’ personal phone showed that he frequented several stores in Lafayette, LA, the day before the Texaco explosion. Specifically, it showed Aikens making stops near Home Depot, Academy Sporting Goods and Hobby Lobby. Surveillance video from Home Depot showed Aikens’ entering the store at 12:33pm. Twenty-three minutes later, he purchased a drill bit, two metal pipe caps, a steel pipe and adhesive.
Aikens’ cell phone was then located near Academy Sporting Goods a short time later. Agents reviewed sales receipts around the time that Aikens was in the store. They located a sales receipt at 1:39pm for 2lbs. of Hodgdon H335, Rifle Powder. Included in that same purchase were two children’s fishing rod and reel combos and a lady’s rod and reel combo. All three fishing combos were later collected from Aikens’ girlfriend who advised that she and her two children had received the fishing equipment as Christmas gifts from Aikens. Aikens then traveled to the nearby Hobby Lobby. A review of the December 19, 2019, surveillance video showed Aikens purchasing what appears to be rocket motor starters. Aikens returned to the store on December 21, 2019, and made another purchase identical to the one on December 19.
“Simply put, Daniel Aikens is a domestic terrorist. The citizens of the Western District of Louisiana should be able to move about their respective communities freely on a day-to-day basis without fear of hurt, harm or danger and this defendant deserves every single day of the sentence handed down by the court. The sentencing hearing showed that the victims involved still are healing emotionally and I hope we brought them some manner of justice. The prosecution team and state, local and federal investigators are to be commended for a job well done in collaborating to ensure that this defendant is held accountable. Given the investigator’s swift action, no other individuals were harmed. I pray that the conviction and sentence will serve as a deterrent for anyone thinking of committing such a selfish and inhumane crime,” stated United States Attorney Brown.
“ATF will continue to prioritize and aggressively investigate crimes involving the criminal use of explosives. Explosives can lead to serious injury, damage, and create fear in communities like happened to the citizens of Alexandria and Monroe,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn. “ATF remains vigilant working with its partners to keep the public safe by investigating and perfecting charges against those who use explosives with criminal intent.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), FBI, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, Alexandria Police Department, U.S. Marshal’s Service, Louisiana State Police, and the Alexandria Fire Department investigated the case, with the assistance of the Alexandria Public Safety Commissioner and the City of Alexandria Mayor’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Jamilla A. Bynog, LaDonte A. Murphy and Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.
###
New Iberia Man Sentenced for Attempted Possession of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Jaron Mitchell, 30, of New Iberia, Louisiana, was sentenced to 122 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, as a result of a conviction for attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge David C. Joseph conducted the sentencing hearing.
In this case, on May 10, 2022, a Customs and Border Protection Officer (CBPO) intercepted a package at UPS World Port in Louisville, Kentucky and Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) began an investigation. Investigators learned the package contained several smaller boxes that were destined for a home in New Iberia, Louisiana. Agents discovered that the boxes contained infant/baby equipment, toys, and a total of ten (10) large Ziplock bag bundles containing suspected methamphetamine, each weighing approximately one pound. The total suspected weight of the methamphetamine was slightly more than ten pounds. Agents tracked the package to a home associated with Mitchell and then to a car where it was found. Mitchell was observed picking up the package from the home where it was delivered and was the driver of the car when package was located by officers. A data extraction of Mitchell’s cellphone showed he had been tracking the package through the UPS app on his phone. Mitchell pleaded guilty to the charge on December 9, 2022.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigation, Customs and Border Protection and the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy.
# # #
Alexandria Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identify TheftRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Robert Lee Daniel, III, of Alexandria, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell to 65 months in prison for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft. Following his release from prison, Daniel will be placed on supervised release for a period of 3 years.
The investigation revealed that in December of 2020, Daniel downloaded LA Wallet, which is a digital driver’s license mobile application, onto his smartphone. Daniel obtained the Louisiana license information of A.S.M., who Daniel knew to be a real person, and used that information to obtain a digital copy of A.S.M.’s driver’s license on LA Wallet. In January of 2021, posing as A.S.M, Daniel used the digital license of A.S.M. to open an account at Cenla Federal Credit Union. Then, again posing as A.S.M., Daniel applied for and obtained a $41,844.45 loan through Cenla Federal Credit Union to purchase a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado. Daniel not only lied about his identity, but he (posing as A.S.M.) also stated on the application that he was employed by Baker Hughes and had an annual income of $78,000.
In addition to Cenla Federal Credit Union, Judge Drell identified nine other victims of Daniel’s fraud scheme. Judge Drell ordered Daniel to pay a total of $45,512.97 in restitution to the victims. At the time of his offense, Daniel was on probation in three different parishes in Louisiana for committing bank fraud.
"This is a great example of federal law enforcement agencies partnering with our local partners to pursue justice for these victims. Although these are typically known as nonviolent crimes, the actions of this defendant are inherently dangerous to the community because they violate privacy interests and take advantage of the state's technological advances. For these reasons, we are pleased with this sentence."
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Alexandria Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy.
# # #
Two North Louisiana Men Plead Guilty to Defrauding Their Employer out of Millions of DollarsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that William Ross Hickman, 48, of Arcadia, Louisiana, and Brian K. Whiteman, 47, of Haughton, Louisiana, have each pleaded guilty to a Bill of Information charging them with conspiracy to commit fraud against the United States. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote presided over the hearing.
According to evidence presented to the court, Hickman and Whiteman participated in a scheme to defraud which began prior to 2018 and involved Raeford Farms of Louisiana, LLC (Raeford Farms), where Hickman was employed as the Sales Manager and Whiteman was as the Assistant Sales Manager of their Arcadia production plant. Raeford Farms sells various products to include fresh and frozen chicken, and chicken frames. A chicken frame is the core of the chicken that remains after processing the breasts, thighs, wings, and legs. Hickman negotiated the sale of these chicken products seeking the highest possible return when selling them.
While employed at Raeford Farms, Hickman developed a scheme to fraudulently divert business from Raeford Farms by using Group 7792 as an intermediary to purchase chicken frames from Raeford Farms. Hickman used his position as Sales Manager to provide favorable sales terms to other entities to the detriment of Raeford Farms. Hickman had a pre-arranged agreement with an unnamed individual and his corporation to sell the chicken frames to Heritage Food Sales (Heritage), which was another company controlled by Hickman. Heritage paid Group 7792 a guaranteed return for each transaction but never took possession of the chicken frames or added anything of value to the transaction. Hickman would then sell the same chicken frames to a poultry wholesaler in Chattanooga, TN for profit.
To further the scheme to defraud, Hickman and others acting in concert with him, sent invoices by email from Arcadia, Louisiana, through interstate commerce, for Heritage to receive payment for the chicken frames. Hickman and Whiteman conspired together to conceal the involvement of Heritage from Raeford Farms in these chicken frame transactions. As Assistant Sales Manager for Raeford Farms, Whiteman was responsible for tracking inventory and the details regarding all shipments. Whiteman provided this type of information to Hickman to further the conspiracy to defraud in order to get a higher price for chicken frame loads sold by Heritage. In exchange for his participation in the conspiracy to defraud, Whiteman understood and agreed with Hickman that Heritage would pay him through his own business entity, All Trade Enterprise, LLC (All Trade). Hickman would pay Whiteman a monthly commission through All Trade and occasionally to him personally. The transactions conducted during the time period of this investigation resulted in an approximate loss of $2,183,950 to Raeford Farms.
Hickman and Whiteman each face up to 5 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing has been set for July 12, 2023 at 9:30.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Alexander C. Van Hook, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath.
# # #
Shreveport Man Sentenced for his Role in Counterfeit Check Cashing SchemeRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Anthony E. Johnson, 27, of Shreveport, Louisiana, has been sentenced for his involvement in a counterfeit check cashing scheme. Johnson was sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 30 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $110,773 in restitution.
According to information introduced in court, Anthony Johnson conspired with Carlos A. Spann and Phelix Williams, both of Shreveport, in a scheme to cash counterfeit checks using fraudulent identities at banks and retail establishments throughout Louisiana in 2017 and 2018. Spann provided Johnson and Williams with altered overlays for identification cards along with counterfeit checks drawn on Tower Loan’s bank account, as well as counterfeit checks drawn on a U.S. Postal Service bank account. All of these fraudulent transactions were captured by surveillance video cameras.
Johnson pleaded guilty on January 17, 2019 in U.S. District Court. The court ordered that Johnson comply with the requirements of the U.S. Probation Office in connection with his pretrial supervised release and was allowed to remain on bond until his sentencing hearing which was scheduled for May 1, 2019. Johnson failed to comply with the conditions of pretrial supervision and a warrant was issued for his arrest in March 2019. Officers with the Shreveport Police Department arrested Johnson in September 2022 on an unrelated charge and learned of the warrant for Johnson. He was returned to the custody of the U.S. Marshal to face the charges in this case.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, Shreveport Police Department, and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan and Alexander C. Van Hook, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney.
# # #