Eastern District of Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced on Thursday, July 7, 2022, that TRON HUGHES, age 42, resident of New Orleans, LA, pled guilty as charged to a one-count indictment for his participation in a weapons violation on June 10, 2021.  Count 1 of the indictment charges HUGHES with being a felon in possession a firearm. 

In Count 1 of the indictment, HUGHES is charged with possessing two firearms on June 10, 2021, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2), and 2.  HUGHES faces a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, a period of up to 3 years supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.  Sentencing is scheduled for October 13, 2022.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice's violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and  partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case  is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office.

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane Evans announced today that NORMAN GARCIA-GARCIA, age 24, was charged on July 7, 2022 in a one-count indictment for illegal reentry of a removed alien in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).

According to the indictment, NORMAN GARCIA-GARCIA (“GARCIA”), reentered the United States after he was previously deported on February 23, 2018.  If convicted, GARCIA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two (2) years, a maximum fine of $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of one year, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. 

U. S. Duane Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter.  Assistant U. S. Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. oversees the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS –  U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JAVAN BAILEY, age 20, a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, pleaded guilty as charged on June 7, 2022 before United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier after previously being charged  in a two-count indictment with producing images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of an eleven-year-old female, Victim 1, in violation of 18 U.S.C. ' 2251(a), and transmitting interstate threats for the purpose of extorting a thing of value, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 875(d). 

According to court documents, BAILEY met Victim 1, a New Orleans resident born in about October 2009, in a social media service that specialized in the hosting and presentation of short-form videos hosted by its users in about February 2021.  BAILEY pretended to be a minor female and communicated with Victim 1 about twerking videos.  After moving the conversation to a text-based platform, BAILEY sent Victim 1 a video of a juvenile female twerking and engaging in sexually explicit conduct.  BAILEY then instructed Victim 1 to send him a video of Victim 1 engaging in sexually explicit conduct or else BAILEY would post the video he sent Victim 1 on social media platforms and say the video was of Victim 1.  Victim 1 complied.  For the next three months, BAILEY continued to direct Victim 1 to record and send him increasingly explicit content, while threatening to release the prior content if Victim 1 refused. 

On about May 27, 2021, law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant on BAILEY’S residence in Cleveland, Ohio, during which they seized BAILEY’s cellular telephone.  A digital media search revealed that between about November 2019 and May 2021, BAILEY sought and obtained depictions of dozens of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct using the same extortionate scheme he employed to obtain sexually explicit material from Victim 1.  Additionally, BAILEY sold the sexually explicit depictions he received of minors by charging approximately $30 in exchange for sharing a link to the content.  BAILEY sold the link dozens of times.

Attempts to identify and notify victims are ongoing.  If you believe you are a victim of these criminal activities, or know someone who is, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324), and reference this case.

BAILEY faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of fifteen (15) years and a maximum term of imprisonment of thirty-two (32) years.  BAILEY also faces a lifetime of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, a mandatory special assessment fee of $200 and he can be required to register as a sex offender.  Sentencing before Judge Barbier has been scheduled for October 13, 2022.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg is in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS –  U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MICHAEL PAUL PERRILLOUX, age 43, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced today to 144 months imprisonment by United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier after previously pleading guilty to Count Four of a four-count indictment charging him with distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including prepubescent children, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2252(a)(2).   As part of the sentence, Judge Barbier further ordered PERRILLOUX to serve five (5) years of supervised release after his term of imprisonment, pay restitution to the victims in an amount to be determined on or before a hearing set for October 13, 2022, comply with sex offender registration requirements, and pay a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.  Judge Barbier also ordered the forfeiture of several electronic items belonging to PERRILLOUX.

According to court documents, in about November 2020, Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) executed a search warrant at PERRILLOUX’s New Orleans-area residence after receiving a tip that PERRILLOUX had uploaded images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children to an online, cloud-based file storage account.  Agents seized numerous electronic devices belonging to PERRILLOUX.  A subsequent review of the devices revealed that between at least 2017 and 2020, PERRILLOUX uploaded images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children via a computer and the internet to one or more online, cloud-based file storage accounts under his control. PERRILLOUX obtained, uploaded, and catalogued thousands of digital files (i.e., images and videos) depicting the sexual exploitation of children. Additionally, PERRILLOUX sometimes received payments in exchange for distributing depictions of his collection of CSAM by transmitting electronically a link to one of more of his online file storage accounts. Specifically, on or about September 10, 2018, PERRILLOUX received approximately $200 from Person 1 in exchange for PERRILLOUX providing Person 1 a link to an online file storage account under PERRILLOUX’s control that contained images and videos depicting CSAM.

Further, a review of PERRILLOUX’s electronic devices revealed that PERRILLOUX engaged in sexually suggestive online conversations with individuals, including minors, while pretending to be either a female or a younger male. During the conversations, PERRILLOUX requested that the minors either engage in sexually explicit conduct or take and send him sexually explicit pictures and videos.  PERRILLOUX saved the sexually explicit images one minor victim sent him with the victim’s consent.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys= Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg was in charge of the prosecution.

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JOSE GARCIA-NUNEZ, age 33, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty on June 6, 2022 to illegally using a social security number belonging to another individual, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B). JOSE GARCIA-NUNEZ pleaded guilty before the Honorable Susie Morgan, U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana, and sentencing is set for October 13, 2022.

According to documents filed in federal court, JOSE GARCIA-NUNEZ used the social security number of another individual to secure employment and orientation training with a local company. 

The maximum penalty for the offense is five years imprisonment, followed by up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to the victim, and a mandatory special assessment fee of one hundred dollars. 

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II is in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TYRONE DILLING, age 27, of New Orleans, Louisiana was sentenced today by the Honorable Barry W. Ashe, District Court Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana, to a two-year term of probation after pleading guilty to   unlawfully opening the mail he was entrusted to deliver. The Court ordered DILLING to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of one hundred dollars.

According to documents filed in federal court, TYRONE DILLING was employed by the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier in New Orleans when he was apprehended opening and tampering with the content of mail items he was entrusted to handle for the Postal Service. 

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II is in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JAMES WATTS, age 50, a resident of Amite, Louisiana, was sentenced on June 30, 2022 to 70 months imprisonment, 4 years supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, by U.S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon, after pleading guilty to a one-count superseding bill of information charging him with possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court documents, on March 8, 2021, Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office deputies initiated a traffic stop on WATTS in Independence, Louisiana after they received a report that WATTS had assaulted a female victim.  Upon stopping WATTS, deputies saw drug paraphernalia in plain view in the rear passenger seat. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed 397 grams of methamphetamine.

During a subsequent interview with agents from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, WATTS acknowledged the methamphetamine found during the search of the vehicle was his.  He further admitted that he had sold approximately one pound of methamphetamine between March 6th and March 8th, 2021, and that he obtained two pounds of methamphetamine from his source of supply approximately every two weeks.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon sentenced TRACY MORGAN, age 51, a resident of LaPlace, Louisiana, on June 30, 2022, to a total of 46 months in the Bureau of Prisons for two charges, consisting first of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine hydrochloride and second of  interstate and foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.  

According to the court records, in August 2019, on behalf of co-conspirator Ellis Batiste, Sr., MORGAN transported money from Louisiana to Texas to pay for 10 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride, which she then transported back to Louisiana where she was subsequently stopped and arrested by law enforcement.

During the investigation, law enforcement seized over 15 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride and over 1 kilogram of fentanyl.  The majority of these controlled substances  were being transported from Houston, Texas into the Eastern District of Louisiana. 

District Judge Lemmon sentenced MORGAN to the 46 month term of  imprisonment to be followed by three (3) years of supervised release. Judge Lemmon also ordered that MORGAN pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for each charge .

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.  

The case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Saint John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Usher prosecuted the matter.

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NEW ORLEANS –  U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ASHLEY OVERTON, age 36, of New Orleans, pled guilty on June 30, 2022 to misprision of felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 4.

According to court documents, as a part of a narcotics drug trafficking investigation, OVERTON failed to notify law enforcement authorities of criminal activity and performed acts to conceal a crime.

OVERTON faces a maximum sentence of 3 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 1 year of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”). OCDETF is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Privitera and Jonathan L. Shih are in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On June 30, 2022 United States District Judge Eldon E. Fallon sentenced MAURICE DURIO, age 42, a New Orleans native to 108 months in federal prison for his role in a massive credit card fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to the court records, DURIO previously pleaded guilty to a credit card fraud charge.  In a sworn factual basis, DURIO admitted that he began making fraudulent credit cards in New Orleans before eventually renting office space in an office park in Houston to expand his operation.  He outfitted the space with equipment used to make fraudulent credit cards.  Over the next several years, DURIO and his co-defendant, EDWARD TOLIVER, who also operated a card manufacturing plant in the same office park, obtained hundreds of thousands of stolen credit card numbers from a variety of sources, including a computer hacker TOLIVER had met in prison and by purchasing them on the dark web.

DURIO and TOLIVER, with the assistance of several co-conspirators, created and/or downloaded credit card templates on laptop computers and transferred the stolen credit card numbers into the templates, which were then used to create tens of thousands of fraudulent access devices.  The cards would generally be printed in batches with the same name appearing on numerous cards.  The name was typically the real name of a co-conspirator.  The cards were embossed with numbers, and corresponding account information was encoded on the strips on the back of the cards.  The names of the co-conspirators/users of the fraudulent cards did not correspond to the actual account holders, who had not given permission for their accounts to be used.  DURIO and TOLIVER distributed thousands of fraudulent access devices to numerous individuals who then used them to fraudulently obtain things of value, including merchandise and gift cards.

The Secret Service, with the assistance of local law enforcement, investigated numerous instances in which individuals were caught with cards manufactured at the Houston plants operated by DURIO and TOLIVER.  Agents were able to tie these card seizures to the plants where DURIO and TOLIVER were making the cards through several means. 

In July 2014, a federal search warrant was executed at the Houston office park and agents seized device making equipment, including embossers, scanners, and high-end printers, thousands of cards, and a laptop computer.  The computer had approximately 80,000 card numbers in files, as well as spreadsheets used to move the card numbers from the text files they came in when obtained through the dark web to the actual credit cards.  Agents also obtained other laptops used by DURIO and TOLIVER that contained approximately 300,000 additional card numbers. 

The scheme used various methods to monetize the fraudulent credit card production.  First, DURIO and TOLIVER would simply sell cards.  The buyer would pay them a set amount and then get to keep whatever the buyer could purchase with the cards.  Second, DURIO and TOLIVER would provide cards with the idea that the person getting the cards would buy merchandise and then sell the merchandise at a discount for cash and kick back some of the cash.  Third, DURIO and TOLIVER would provide cards and the person getting the cards would buy gifts cards, some of which were kicked back. 

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the United States Secret Service.  The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller.

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – COREY HALE, age 32, a resident of New Orleans, was charged on June 30, 2022 in a four-count indictment by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

If convicted, HALE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.  

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.  

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Trummel.

NEW ORLEANS –  U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DOMINIC ROMANO, age 21, a resident of Luling, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on June 30, 2022 before United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe to a one-count indictment charging him with possession of images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children under the age of twelve years old, in violation of 18 U.S.C. ' 2252(a)(4)(B). 

According to court documents, the Federal Bureau of Investigation received a tip from another law enforcement agency that an individual, subsequently determined to be ROMANO, accessed an online bulletin board having an explicit focus on the advertisement, distribution, and facilitation of sharing child abuse material.  The bulleting board contained sections and forums cataloged by the age of the victims and the nature of the violence inflicting on them.

The FBI executed a search warrant on ROMANO’s residence on May 7, 2020 and  seized electronic devices.  ROMANO’s seized devices contained at least 2589 image and 62 videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children, including children less than three years old.  Among ROMANO’s collection was a digital presentation that purported to be an instruction manual on how to successfully victimize “very young girls” without being caught. 

ROMANO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years.  ROMANO also faces up to a lifetime of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and he can be required to register as a sex offender.  Sentencing before Judge Ashe is scheduled for September 29, 2022, at 1:30 pm.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys= Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg is in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that BRIAN ADAMS, age 22, of Paintsville, Kentucky, was indicted on June 30, 2022 by a federal grand jury for communication of interstate threats to kidnap or injure, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c). 

According to the indictment, ADAMS, transmitted a threat to a fifth-grade class at the Laureate Academy Charter School on or about October 14, 2020.  At the time, the school was conducting class virtually over Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Specifically, ADAMS is alleged to have used racial epithets and threats against the students.  The grand jury also made a special finding that ADAMS selected the fifth-grade class as the object of his threat because of the actual and perceived race of the students and teachers. 

If convicted of this offense, ADAMS faces a maximum sentence of 5 years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 1 year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. 

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Tracey N. Knight and Jonathan L. Shih are in charge of the prosecution.

WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury in New Orleans, Louisiana, returned an indictment charging a Louisiana man with seven counts of Possession of Animals in an Animal Fighting Venture.

According to court documents, David Guidry III, 47, possessed and received dogs for the purpose of having the dogs participate in animal fighting ventures.

On or around Oct. 24, 2017, a federal law enforcement team consisting of agents from the Department of Agriculture, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service, and other agencies executed a search warrant on Guidry’s residence. The physical evidence from the search along with court-authorized wiretaps established that Guidry violated the federal anti-animal-fighting statute.

If convicted, Guidry faces up to five years in prison for each count of conviction. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Trial Attorney Matthew D. Evans of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, Environmental Crimes Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that ANDREW PAYTON, age 48, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter on Tuesday June 28, 2022 to serve 168 months in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons after pleading guilty to the charge of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B).  PAYTON’s federal term of imprisonment is to be followed by five years of supervised release. 

Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials investigated the 2019 distribution of illegal narcotics into Orleans and St. Tammany Parishes from the Houston, Texas area.  This investigation culminated with the indictment of PAYTON on October 18, 2019.

The case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (D.E.A.), the Louisiana State Police, the New Orleans Police Department, and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr.is in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JEREMY TALBERT, age 26, from Memphis, Tennessee pleaded guilty on June 29, 2022 to Sex Trafficking of a Minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1), 1591(b)(2), 1594(a), and 2. 

According to court documents, TALBERT brought a fourteen-year-old female (“Minor Victim”) from Memphis to New Orleans for the purpose of her engaging in commercial sex acts between October 2020 and December 17, 2020.  During this time, TALBERT was aware of Minor Victim’s age from conversations with her mother.  TALBERT advertised Minor Victim on websites commonly used to advertise sexual services in exchange for money.  TALBERT required Minor Victim to earn approximately $1,000 per day from commercial sex acts and TALBERT kept all or most of the money she earned.

In pleading guilty, TALBERT faces a minimum sentence of ten (10) years imprisonment up to life imprisonment.  The defendant also faces supervised release for a term of five years to up to life, up to a $250,000 fine, a requirement that the defendant participate in the sex offender registration and notification program, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee, as to each count. The Honorable Lance Africk set sentencing in this matter for October 5, 2022 at 2 p.m.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Memphis Police Department in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Carboni and Jordan Ginsberg are in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that WARREN PICARD, age 26, of New Orleans, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess a firearm by a felon and misprision of felony. 

Specifically, on June 29, 2022, PICARD pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess a firearm by a felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, and one count of misprision of felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 4.

According to the court documents, PICARD and others conspired to possess a Glock Model 19, nine-millimeter caliber pistol on or about July 21, 2020.

For conspiracy to possess a firearm by a felon, PICARD faces a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.  For misprision of a felony, PICARD faces a maximum sentence of 3 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 1 year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. 

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and re-entry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Shih is in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JONATHAN JOHNSON, age 32,  a resident of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk to one-hundred fifty (150) months’ imprisonment, eight (8) years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee after pleading guilty to a one-count indictment that charged him with possession with intent to distribute fifty (50) grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court documents, On March 31, 2021, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies patrolling Highway 1 in Thibodaux, Louisiana observed a white Mercedes four-door sedan traveling south with tinted windows that appeared to violate state law.  The deputies executed a traffic stop of the vehicle and identified the driver as JOHNSON.  The deputies checked JOHNSON’s license and learned that his license was suspended.  The deputies requested assistance at the scene.  As the deputies approached JOHNSON, they observed JOHNSON open the driver’s door of the vehicle and discard three hundred (300) grams of pure crystal methamphetamine onto the ground from a clear plastic bag.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones.

NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that former United States Coast Guard employee ELDRIDGE JOHNSON pleaded guilty on June 23, 2022, to one count of bribery and to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.

Judge Barry W. Ashe took JOHNSON’S guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for September 29, 2022. The maximum terms of imprisonment are fifteen years for bribery and five years for conspiracy. Each offense is also punishable by a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

The bribery conviction relates to JOHNSON’S conduct as an examination administrator at a Mandeville, Louisiana Coast Guard exam center. JOHNSON administered examinations that merchant mariners were legally required to pass in order to obtain licenses to serve in various positions on vessels. The examinations tested mariners’ knowledge and training to safely operate under the authority of the licenses. Beginning no later than 2011 and continuing until about the time of his January 2018 retirement, JOHNSON engaged in a scheme to receive bribes from mariners who had applied for licenses. JOHNSON offered and sold various forms of improper assistance, including reporting false information to the Coast Guard and, more commonly, selling examination questions and answers to mariners before they took the tests.

JOHNSON’S conspiracy conviction relates to his post-retirement conduct, in which he acted as an intermediary for exam center employee DOROTHY SMITH in a scheme in which SMITH entered false exam scores in exchange for money. SMITH and another former Coast Guard employee who acted as SMITH’S intermediary, BEVERLY MCCRARY, pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced on September 15, 2022.

JOHNSON, SMITH, and MCCRARY were charged in an indictment along with twenty-eight mariners, the last two of which were recently sentenced: on April 28, 2022, Judge Ashe sentenced SHUNMANIQUE WILLIS, who pleaded guilty to obtaining a license though false scores entered by SMITH, to six months imprisonment to be followed by one year of supervised release and 100 hours of community service; on June 23, 2022, Judge Ashe sentenced SHARRON ROBINSON, who pleaded guilty to being an intermediary in SMITH’S scheme, to 54 months imprisonment to be followed by one year of supervised release. ROBINSON conspired to obtain false scores for herself and for nine other mariners.

A separate indictment charged eight mariners with obtaining licenses though false scores entered by SMITH. In that case, between April and June 2022, Judge Eldon E. Fallon sentenced the following seven mariners to probation: RANSFORD ACKAH, NATHANIEL DOMINICK, ODELL GRIGGS, DEVIN HEBERT, RAYNEL LEWIS, ADRIAN MACK, and MAURICE PALMER. The eighth defendant in that case, DERRICK WARD, pleaded guilty on March 4, 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Fallon on August 4, 2022. The maximum penalty is five years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

This matter is being investigated by the Coast Guard Investigative Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon is in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on June 23, 2022, QUENTRELL BERTHOLOTTE, age 29 of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced by the Honorable District Court Judge Barry W. Ashe. BERTHOLOTTE previously pleaded guilty as charged to a four-count indictment. He was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2) in Counts 1 and 2; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B) in Count 3; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i) in Count 4.

BERTHOLOTTE was sentenced to a total of ten (10) years imprisonment and four (4) years of supervised release. He was sentenced to 46 months for Counts 1 and 2, and 60 months for Count 3, all to run concurrently. As to Count 4, he was sentenced to 60 months to run consecutive to all other sentences. He is also required to pay a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee for each count.

According to court documents, BERTHOLOTTE came under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) in December of 2020. On January 14, 2020, he was seen on video surveillance wielding a 5.56 caliber “ghost gun,” which does not have a serial number. During a search of his girlfriend’s apartment on April 22, 2021, investigators found over forty (40) grams of fentanyl, the “ghost gun,” a Glock 27 semi-automatic handgun, and over $30,000.00 in U.S. currency. BERTHOLOTTE was previously convicted of a drug trafficking offense in Orleans Parish.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles D. Strauss.

NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ERNEST DUNN, age 32 of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty as charged to violating the Federal Gun Control Act. The single count indictment charged DUNN with being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).

According to court documents, DUNN was previously convicted of armed robbery and purse snatching. The current conviction relates to a November 6, 2020 incident during which  DUNN was found sitting in the driver’s seat of a car by federal agents. A search of the car revealed five firearms. Additionally, two Glock semi-automatic handguns were found on the floorboard at his feet. He faces a maximum term of ten (10) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.     

DUNN’s sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for September 29, 2022.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the New Orleans Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles D. Strauss.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – LENDELL WALLACE, age 38, a resident of Laplace, Louisiana, was charged June 23, 2022, in a two-count indictment by a federal grand jury with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute tramadol and possession with intent to distribute tramadol in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(E), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

The maximum punishment WALLACE faces for each offense is five (5) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, at least one (1) year of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Service, and United States Customs and Border Protection. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers.

NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that GENE MURRAY, age 49, was charged on Thursday, June 23, 2022, by grand jury indictment with one count of failure to report international travel as a sex offender under the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) 18 U.S.C. § 2250(b).

If convicted, MURRAY faces a maximum term of 10 years in prison, up to a $250,000.00 fine, a term of supervised release of between 5 years and life, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Spiro G. Latsis and Rachal Cassagne are in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, announced that, ERIKA JAMES (“JAMES”), age 48, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged on  June 21, 2022 with one count of health care fraud.

According to the bill of information, JAMES was a Denial Specialist at Crescent Care, a Federally Qualified Health Center and AIDS Service Organization. Crescent Care provides HIV medical care, other health care, and social services in the New Orleans area.

From March 2020 through April 2021, JAMES created fraudulent invoices with falsified supporting documents, such as explanation of benefits documents from insurance companies. JAMES endorsed checks that were issued to patients that were in higher amounts than the usual range of the refund amount. JAMES made claims in the system that made it appear that patients came into Crescent Care and paid out of pocket for services. JAMES would then have the Finance Department issue the patient refund check, and JAMES would then deposit the refund check into her personal bank account.  JAMES filed additional claims with the Louisiana Health Access Program (“LAHAP”) in December 2020 and told LAHAP to mail the checks to her residence. The checks that were sent to JAMES’s residence were made out to Crescent Care. JAMES then proceeded to deposit those checks into her personal bank account.

If convicted, JAMES faces a possible maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee per count.

The United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana stated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case is being investigated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General.  The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Ryan McLaren and Kathryn McHugh.

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NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that PATRICK EZELL WILSON, age 51, of Bogalusa, Louisiana was charged on June 21, 2022 with embezzling the mail in a bill of information filed today in the Eastern District of Louisiana.

According to documents filed in federal court, PATRICK EZELL was employed by the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier in Bogalusa when he was apprehended stealing mail he was entrusted to handle for the Postal Service.

The maximum penalty for the offense is five years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to the victim followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II is in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that GREGORY JOSEPH HERNANDEZ, age 67, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was indicted on June 10, 2022 for one count of Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, six counts of Bank Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344(2), and two counts of Theft of Mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1708. The indictment was previously sealed and unsealed on June 17, 2022.

According to the indictment, HERNANDEZ stole checks from the mail and forged information on the stolen checks.  HERNANDEZ and his co-conspirators then deposited and cashed the altered checks at financial institutions in the New Orleans area.       

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, HERNANDEZ faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years of imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud; a maximum of thirty (30) years of imprisonment, followed by up to five (5) years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for each count of Bank Fraud; and a maximum of five (5) years of imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.00 for each count of Theft of Mail. A mandatory special assessment fee of $100 per count also applies.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service and the New Orleans Police Department in this investigation.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JARRIN GAYDEN, age 34,  a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty on June 16, 2022 before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to a one-count superseding bill of information that charged him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one-hundred grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court documents, in November 2017, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) began to investigate the heroin overdose death of an individual in Metairie, Louisiana.  FBI agents identified the deceased individual’s heroin supplier and arrested him after making a controlled purchase of heroin from him.  After the supplier was arrested, GAYDEN assumed control of the supplier’s phone and began to sell heroin to customers who called to purchase heroin from the supplier.  After learning of GAYDEN’s drug activity using the supplier’s phone, agents made two controlled purchases of heroin from GAYDEN totaling two grams. 

As a result of his plea, GAYDEN faces a minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum term of imprisonment of forty years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00, at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.  The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones.

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NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK COMPANY, LLC (“GREAT LAKES”), a Texas company, was sentenced on June 14, 2022 for violating the Clean Water Act in connection with an oil spill and ordered to pay a $1 million fine.

According to court documents, GREAT LAKES admitted to negligently causing the discharge of a harmful quantity of oil into a navigable water of the United States, in violation of the Clean Water Act. The spill took place on September 5, 2016, on the edge of Bay Long near the Chenier Ronquille barrier island, which is east of Grand Isle.

In the plea documents, GREAT LAKES admitted that in its contract with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”), GREAT LAKES was responsible for locating all pipelines in the area of the project and complying with the federal Pipeline Safety Act and the “One Call” system created by the Louisiana Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law. GREAT LAKES admitted that it violated those two laws by failing to alert pipeline companies about continuing work near their pipelines for several months leading up to the oil spill.

James Tassin, the subcontractor working for GREAT LAKES who operated the marsh buggy that physically caused the spill, was charged in a separate criminal case, No. 21-cr-8, and he pled guilty as charged on March 18, 2021 and is awaiting sentencing. According to court documents in Tassin’s case, after GREAT LAKES stopped complying with One Call requirements, a GREAT LAKES employee instructed Tassin to use his marsh buggy to dig near pipelines, despite that digging not being in NOAA’s approved plans, and without GREAT LAKES getting approval from any pipeline companies that it was safe to dig. While Tassin was in the area of that work on September 5, 2016, he struck one of the pipelines with his marsh buggy and caused the oil spill. Tassin admitted that a GREAT LAKES employee instructed Tassin not to tell anyone that Tassin had been digging near the site of the spill, so Tassin followed that instruction. In GREAT LAKES’ plea documents, GREAT LAKES admitted that it supervised Tassin’s work and that GREAT LAKES’ negligent supervision of Tassin caused the oil spill.

“The defendant in this case recklessly violated regulations designed to protect the environment and then tried to hide their actions,” said Kimberly Bahney, Special Agent in Charge, of EPA’s Criminal Enforcement Program in Louisiana. “This sentencing demonstrates that we will hold violators responsible for breaking our environmental laws.”

“This sentencing sends a strong message to those responsible for ensuring the safety and integrity of the Nation’s pipeline transportation system,” said Todd Damiani, Special Agent-in-Charge, Southern Region, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. “Together with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that justice is served.”

“The Department of Commerce OIG is dedicated to working with our partners to curb fraud, waste and abuse, especially when projects receiving NOAA funding result in environmental hazards. We greatly appreciate the cooperative efforts of the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement counterparts in ensuring justice is served in this matter,” said Jeffrey Lysaght, Special Agent in Charge, U.S Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General.

Judge Greg G. Guidry ordered GREAT LAKES to pay a criminal fine of $1 million and a mandatory special assessment fee of $125. Additionally, GREAT LAKES previously agreed to pay the victim pipeline company $3,166,667 in a related civil case, and Tassin’s employer also agreed in the same civil case to pay the victim an additional $1,666,667, for a total payment to the victim of over $4.8 million.

The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas D. Moses is in charge of the prosecution.

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NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that RACHEL CESARIO, age 43, of Riverside, California, was sentenced to five (5) years imprisonment on June 16, 2022 for using the mail for methamphetamine trafficking.

CESARIO pled guilty on December 8, 2021, to use of the mail in aid of racketeering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1952(a)(3). According to court documents, CESARIO and her co-conspirators sold methamphetamine in multi-pound quantities. Law enforcement agents caught CESARIO and her codefendant, Allen Edgerson, mailing packages with multiple pounds of methamphetamine at a time to codefendant Sheon Copprue in New Orleans.

The Honorable Sarah S. Vance sentenced CESARIO to a term of imprisonment of five (5) years imprisonment, followed by two (2) years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. CESARIO’s codefendants, Sheon Copprue and Tonya Calvin, have already pled guilty in this case and are awaiting sentencing, and codefendant Allen Edgerson was previously sentenced to over 17 years for his role in the conspiracy.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Louisiana State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas D. Moses is in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that JOSEPH WOODS, age 31, of Metairie, Louisiana, pleaded guilty as charged to a three-count indictment. Count 1 charged the defendant with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); Count 2 charged him with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and Count 3 charged him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).

According to court documents, WOODS was previously convicted of drug trafficking, among other felony firearm and drug offenses in Jefferson Parish. Due to these convictions, it is unlawful for him to possess a firearm. He is now convicted of possessing multiple firearms and possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base (“crack”), and heroin. On October 4, 2020, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which WOODS was a passenger in Westwego, Louisiana.  The officers observed two camouflage bags inside the vehicle before the driver drove off at a high rate of speed.  The officers observed as the bags were thrown the side of the road.  The bags were later recovered and additional evidence consistent with drug trafficking was found in the center console of the vehicle.

For Count 1 of the indictment, WOODS faces a maximum term of twenty (20) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and a minimum of three (3) years of supervised release. For Count 2, he faces a minimum term of five (5) years up to a maximum term of life imprisonment to run consecutive to all other sentences, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and up to five (5) years of supervised release. For Count 3, he faces a maximum of ten (10) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and up to three (3) years of supervised release.  WOODS faces a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee per count.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The case was investigated by the Westwego Police department and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles D. Strauss is in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JAVORIOUS SCOTT, aka JAYDAYOUNGAN, age 24, a Bogalusa resident and rapper was sentenced by United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance to a sentence of time served after serving approximately seven (7) months’ imprisonment, one (1) year of supervised release, a $5,500.00 fine and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee after pleading guilty to a one-count indictment that charged him with possession of a firearm while under indictment or felony, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(n)(1) and 924(a)(1)(D), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court documents, on October 29, 2021, Officers with the Bogalusa Police Department executed a traffic stop on a silver-colored Audi bearing a Virginia license plate traveling south on South Columbia Street in Bogalusa, Louisiana because the vehicle possessed a switched license plate.  SCOTT, the driver of the vehicle, failed to provide his license or vehicle registration.  While speaking to SCOTT and the passenger, officers smelled a strong odor of marijuana in the vehicle.  The officers also observed a black handgun on the driver’s side floorboard directly beneath SCOTT’S legs.  Officers removed SCOTT from the vehicle and observed a small amount of suspected marijuana in the driver’s seat.  Officers then recovered a loaded Ruger, Security-9, 9mm, pistol from the driver’s side floorboard. 

At the time that the officers located and seized the firearm from the floorboard, SCOTT was under indictment for felony crimes in Harris County, Texas.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Bogalusa Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – BRISHUN GARY, age 20, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced by the Honorable Susie Morgan, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. GARY was sentenced to 3 years of probation, 6 months to be served on home confinement and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. The defendant was also ordered to pay $39,324 in restitution.

According to court records, on or about February 5, 2020, GARY and others attempted to break into an ATM located in the drive-through of a Capital One Bank using sledgehammers, crowbars, chains, and a truck. Just prior to this robbery attempt, GARY and others were observed in the same truck attempting to break into an ATM at Hancock Whitney Bank. 

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney G. Dall Kammer, Chief of the General Crimes Unit.  

NEW ORLEANS – Today, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans along with the Department of Justice (DOJ) reasserts the mission of DOJ’s Elder Justice Initiative to combat elder abuse and financial exploitation, encourage reporting abuse, and educate the public to make America safer for all.

Elder Abuse can take many forms and is not always easy to recognize.  It may come in the form of the improper or illegal use of an older person’s money or property (financial exploitation, including scams); it may be physical, psychological, or sexual abuse; or it may be in the form of the intentional or unintentional failure or refusal to provide care or help to an older person. 

“Today, our office reminds seniors and their caregivers to be aware of fraudulent schemes that target the elderly, and other vulnerable consumers.  Additionally, if seniors become aware of or believe that they are victims of elder abuse, they should please contact law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Evans.

The Eastern District of Louisiana has a dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorney tasked with the prosecution of elder abuse cases and who provides opportunities for prevention education and training for the public. If your organization would like to have our Elder Justice Coordinator conduct a presentation about elder abuse prevention, please contact Shane M. Jones, Community Outreach Coordinator, at 504-680-3000 or by email at shane.jones@usdoj.gov. 

If you need assistance or to report elder abuse, please contact your local adult protective services agency through the Eldercare Locator or by call the helpline at 1-800-677-1116 Monday – Friday 9am - 8pm EST. To report elder fraud, please visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center or contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–8311 Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm EST.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ISHAIS PRICE (“PRICE"), age 41, of New Orleans, Louisiana,  was sentenced today for Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, before United States District Court Judge Sarah S. Vance, arising out of a staged automobile accident with a tractor-trailer occurring in New Orleans.

According to documents filed in federal court, PRICE, along with her co-defendants, Doniesha Gibson (Gibson), of New Orleans, Louisiana; and Chandrika Brown (Brown), of Harvey, and a co-defendant driver conspired to commit mail fraud in connection with a staged accident with a co-defendant driver. Thus far, the total number of defendants convicted in “Operation Sideswipe” is thirty-seven (37).

PRICE claimed that on October 15, 2015, she was a passenger in a 2014 Dodge Avenger owned and driven by Gibson that was hit by a Hotard bus while traveling on the I-10 near the flyover of the I-510.  Also in the vehicle was defendant Brown.  In truth, a co-defendant asked Gibson to recruit Brown and PRICE to ride along as  passengers and he then intentionally sought out a commercial vehicle to intentionally hit. After the staged accident, the co-defendant driver switched seats with Gibson, and they called the N.O.P.D.  Gibson, along with the passengers, falsely stated that the Hotard bus illegally changed lanes and caused the accident. Thereafter, Brown, Gibson, PRICE, and the co-defendant driver each retained counsel and made demands against Hotard’s owner and insurer for personal injury damages. As a result of the claims, the insurer utilized the U.S. mails to send the settlement drafts to Brown, Gibson, PRICE, and the co-defendant driver’s counsel. The total settlement for the Hotard bus accident was approximately $677,500.

U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced PRICE to one (1) year and one (1) day  imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera; Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Long. 

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – TRAVIS CARTER, a/k/a “Tree,” age 42, a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, was sentenced on June 9, 2022 to 24 months imprisonment , 3 years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier, after pleading guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court documents, on January 7, 2021, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives executed a search of CARTER’s residence in Metairie. During the search, they discovered a digital scale with white powder residue, approximately one gram of suspected crack cocaine, a box of clear plastic bags, and $2,398.00 in U.S. currency. Detectives then transported CARTER to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center. Thereafter, correctional officers  searched CARTER’s person, which resulted in the discovery of six clear plastic bags containing approximately 165.27 grams of cocaine located in his  shoes.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DOMINIQUE PEEPLES, age 25, from Memphis, Tennessee, was charged today by a federal grand jury in a one-count indictment for bringing a seventeen-year-old female from Memphis, Tennessee to New Orleans, Louisiana and elsewhere for the purpose of having her perform commercial sex acts from in or about August 2020 and continuing until in or about January 2021.  For this conduct, the indictment charges PEEPLES with Sex Trafficking of a Minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1), 1591(b)(2), 1594(a), and 2. 

If convicted, PEEPLES faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten (10) years imprisonment up to life imprisonment.  The defendant also faces supervised release for a minimum term of five years up to life, a fine of up to $250,000, a requirement that the defendant participate in the sex offender registration and notification program, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Memphis Police Department in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Carboni and Jordan Ginsberg, Supervisor of the Public Corruption Unit, are in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that CHRISTOPHER MAY, age 30, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on June 8, 2022 to a total of 106 months imprisonment in the custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release.

Specifically, the Court sentenced MAY to forty-six (46) months for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); and three counts of possessing a firearm and/or ammunition as a convicted felon in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).  Each count is to be served concurrently with one another.  The Court also sentenced MAY to sixty (60) months imprisonment for one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i) to be served consecutively  to  all other counts.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating the matter. Assistant United States Attorney Charles D. Strauss was in charge of the prosecution.

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department announced today that is has opened a pattern or practice investigation into the Louisiana State Police (LSP). This civil investigation will assess whether LSP uses excessive force and whether it engages in racially discriminatory policing. The investigation will include a comprehensive review of LSP policies, training, supervision, and force investigations, as well as LSP’s systems of accountability, including misconduct complaint intake, investigation, review, disposition, and discipline.

“Protecting the civil rights of all Americans and building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve are among the Justice Department’s most important responsibilities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This investigation, like all of our pattern or practice investigations, will seek to promote the transparency, accountability, and public trust that is essential to public safety.”

“Every American, regardless of race, has the right to constitutional policing,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Based on an extensive review of publicly available information and information provided to us, we find significant justification to investigate whether Louisiana State Police engages in excessive force and engages in racially discriminatory policing against Black residents and other people of color. The Justice Department stands ready to use every tool in our arsenal to confront allegations of misconduct and to ensure legitimacy during encounters with law enforcement.”

"We cannot ignore any allegation of a constitutional violation much less, one alleging a pattern or pratice of unconstitutional policing," stated U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana.  "No one should be deprived of the protections of our federal and state constitutions. We are all equal under the law and entitled to just, efficient, consistent, and constitutional law enforcement."

Middle District of  Louisiana U.S. Attorney Gathe stated, “Today, this administration will give its best effort into looking into the patterns and practices of the Louisiana State Police and hope to renew faith in the system and provide justice for all.”

“In times of attempting to resolve controversy and conflict, the parties involved must get comfortable having uncomfortable conversations. Today, the US Department of Justice has pledged to be a conduit between the Louisiana State Police and community stakeholders, so that open lines of communication can start flowing and any concerns will not fall on deaf ears,” stated Western District U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown.

The investigation is being conducted pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which prohibits state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives individuals of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. The statute allows the department to remedy such misconduct through civil litigation. The department will be assessing law enforcement practices under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, as well as under the Safe Streets Act of 1968 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The investigation is separate from any federal criminal investigation of LSP troopers. 

Prior to the announcement, department officials informed Governor John Bel Edwards, Colonel Lamar Davis, and Deputy General Counsel Gail Holland of the investigation. They pledged to cooperate with the investigation. As part of this investigation, the department officials will reach out to community groups and members of the public to learn about their experiences with LSP.

The Special Litigation Section of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana will jointly conduct this investigation. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Department of Justice via email at Community.Louisiana@usdoj.gov or by phone at (202) 353-0684. Individuals can also report civil rights violations regarding this or other matters using the Civil Rights Division’s reporting portal, available at civilrights.justice.gov.

Information specific to the Civil Rights Division’s Police Reform Work can be found here: /media/872116/dl?inline. 

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NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JOHN EDWARD JONES, age 42, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty to Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.

According to court documents, beginning around July 2015 and continuing through March 2020, JONES collected Social Security Administration benefits paid to a deceased individual.  In total, JONES fraudulently received approximately $40,361.00 in Social Security Administration benefits to which he was not entitled.

JONES faces a maximum penalty of ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.  U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter set sentencing for September 8, 2022.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General and the Louisiana State Police.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Judge Wendy B. Vitter sentenced BLAKE MONROE on June 2, 2022, to 120 months in prison, three (3) years of supervised release, and $200 in mandatory special assessment fees for being a felon in possession of a loaded AK-47 seized during a New Orleans Police Department traffic stop and for possessing with intent to distribute a quantity of crack cocaine.

MONROE, age 31, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty on November 3, 2021, to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), and to the crack cocaine offense, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). MONROE has prior felony convictions in Orleans Parish.

According to court records, during a December 11, 2019, traffic stop, NOPD officers observed in plain sight a loaded AK-47, with the selector switch in the fire position, on the back floor of a Mercedes driven by MONROE. NOPD officers had pulled MONROE over after two NOPD officers observed MONROE conduct a suspected hand-to-hand crack sale in New Orleans East. During his booking at jail that same afternoon, an Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy found approximately 24 grams of crack cocaine that MONROE had hidden on his body. 

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Hammond Police Department, New Orleans Police Department, and Slidell Police Department in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney David Howard Sinkman is in charge of the prosecution. 

NEW ORLEANS –  U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MARK RICHBURG, age 40, of New Orleans, was sentenced on June 2, 2022 by United States District Judge Eldon E. Fallon after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, 100 grams or more of heroin, and a quantity of cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), 841(b)(1)(B), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. 

According to court records, RICHBURG and others conspired to distribute multiple kilograms of cocaine and heroin in the New Orleans area.  Additionally, RICHBURG arranged for the transport of multiple kilograms of cocaine and heroin between Texas and New Orleans.

Judge Fallon sentenced RICHBURG to 292 months of imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”). OCDETF is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Privitera and Jonathan L. Shih are in charge of the prosecution.

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NEW ORLEANS –  U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that LAWRENCE ROBERTSON (“ROBERTSON”), age 37, pled guilty on June 2, 2022 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846; one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); and one count of possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i). 

According to court documents, on September 11, 2018, ROBERTSON possessed over 40 grams of fentanyl, quantities of heroin, and a Glock Model 27, .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol. 

On the drug conspiracy count, ROBERTSON faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years up to 40 years of imprisonment, at least 4 years of supervised release, a fine of up to $4,000,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.  On the firearm count, ROBERTSON faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years up to life imprisonment, up to 5 years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Shih is in charge of the prosecution.

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NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane Evans announced today that on June 2, 2022 ALFREDO ERASMO CASTILLO-MORALES, age 32, was charged in a one-count indictment for illegal reentry of a removed alien in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).

According to the indictment, ALFREDO ERASMO CASTILLO-MORALES (“CASTILLO-MORALES”), reentered the United States after he was previously deported on November 1, 2019.  If convicted, CASTILLO-MORALES faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a maximum fine of $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of one year, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. 

U. S. Duane Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter.  Assistant U. S. Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. is in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ALEJANDRO MUNOZ, age 41,  a resident of Houston, Texas, pled guilty on June 2, 2022 before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to a one-count indictment that charged him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court documents, beginning in October of 2014, Special Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration identified MUNOZ as a supplier of heroin and cocaine hydrochloride to customers in Houston, Texas and New Orleans.  As a  result of his plea, MUNOZ faces a minimum term of imprisonment of ten years, a maximum term of imprisonment of life, a fine of up to $10,000,000.00, at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. 

This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).  OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration offices in New Orleans, Louisiana and Houston, Texas, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.  The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones.

NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that NICOLE COCKERHAM (“COCKERHAM”), age 42, of Houma, Louisiana, pled guilty on June 2, 2022 to Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.

According to documents filed in federal court, from March 2019 to July 2020, COCKERHAM knowingly converted approximately $38,851.00 in Social Security Administration and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES ACT”) funds.

COCKERHAM faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.  Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for September 13, 2022, before United States District Judge Wendy D. Vitter.

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.

For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, and the Treasury Inspection General for Tax Administration with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that on June 1, 2022, TRAVIS GIBSON, 48, pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(C). 

GIBSON  conspired to distribute methamphetamine throughout Jefferson Parish and the surrounding areas for over a year. 

At sentencing, GIBSON faces up to a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a maximum fine of up to $1,000,000.00, at least three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(C).

This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Kenner Police Department, Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, New Orleans Police Department, and St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Nolan Paige, André Jones, and Melissa Bücher.

NEW ORLEANS – CHERYL L. KINCHEN, age 40,  a resident of Tickfaw, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on May 31, 2022 to two counts of filing false tax returns, in her personal capacity, before U.S. District Court Judge Greg G. Guidry  announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans of the Eastern District of Louisiana.

According to court records, KINCHEN,  the owner/operator of Beyond Blessed Tax Services,  prepared false tax returns in 2015 and 2017 for her own personal taxes, by significantly underreporting  the gross income  she earned as a tax preparer for those time periods.

Sentencing is set for August 30, 2022. KINCHEN faces a maximum sentence of three years, up to one year of supervised release, up to a $100,000 fine and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for the filing of false tax returns.

U.S. Attorney Evans commended the special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation for their handling of the matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward J. Rivera.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that CATHERINE CAMPBELL WILLIAMS, age 69, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty on May 31, 2022 to Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.

According to court documents, beginning in December 2010 and continuing through 2020, WILLIAMS collected Social Security Administration benefits paid to a deceased relative.  In total, WILLIAMS fraudulently received approximately $61,324 in Social Security Administration benefits to which she was not entitled.

WILLIAMS faces a maximum penalty of ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.  U.S. District Judge Greg G. Guidry set sentencing for August 30, 2022.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that defendant KAHLIQ WILLIAMS, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on May 31, 2022 by U.S. District Court Judge Greg G. Guidry to a total term of 164 months.  As to Counts 1, 3, and 4 the Court sentenced WILLIAMS to 80 months of imprisonment, to be served concurrently with each other.   As to Count 2, WILLIAMS was sentenced to a term of 84 months, to be served consecutively to the terms imposed on each of Counts 1, 3, and 4.  Additionally, upon release from imprisonment, Judge Guidry ordered that WILLIAMS shall be on supervised release for a term of 5 years which consists of 3 years as to Counts 1, 3 and 4, and 5 years as to Count 2, such terms to run concurrently with each other.  Finally, WILLIAMS was ordered to pay a total of $400 in mandatory special assessment fees on Counts One, Two, Three, and Four of the six-count indictment. 

Counts One and Four of the indictment charged WILLIAMS with two separate carjackings,  both in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119(1).  Count 2 charged WILLIAMS with brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, that is, a carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section, 924(c)(1)(A)(ii).  Finally, Count Three charged WILLIAMS with burglary of a federal firearms licensee, in  violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(u).

According to filed documents, WILLIAMS pled guilty to two carjackings which occurred on April 16, 2020, and May 19, 2020.  Both carjackings occurred in New Orleans, and in both instances, WILLIAMS admitted to taking the vehicles from the respective victims while brandishing a firearm during the commission of the carjackings. Additionally, on April 17, 2020, at approximately 1:16 AM, deputies with St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to C&S Gun Parlor in Covington, LA in response to a burglary alarm. C&S Gun Parlor is designated as a federal firearm licensee.  Deputies arrived to find the front entrance damaged.  Specifically, deputies noted that it appeared that a vehicle had rammed the front entrance.  Investigators reviewed surveillance video footage from the interior and exterior of the store and observed a Chevrolet pick-up truck drive the rear end of the vehicle through the front entrance of the business, breaking a poll, glass doors, glass windows, and the metal gate.  Three individuals wearing hoodies, masks, gloves, exited the vehicle and proceeded to throw rifles and handguns into the bed of the pick-up truck.  Forty-five (45) total weapons were stolen from the store.  WILLIAMS was eventually arrested in Jefferson Parish and several of the stolen firearms were found in his possession.  In addition to admitting his role in the respective carjackings, he also admitted his participation in the burglary of the gun store.

This case was being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives the New Orleans Police Department, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Department, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office.

NEW ORLEANS – KENISHA R. CALLAHAN, age 44, and a resident of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle to one count of filing a false tax return, one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return and one count of making a false statement to the Department of Education, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court records, Count One alleges that CALLAHAN, the owner of Callahan Tax Service, prepared and filed a false 2015 U.S. Individual Tax Return Form 1040, wherein she underreported her earned income for the alleged time. Count Two charges that in 2015, CALLAHAN aided in the preparation and filing of a client’s tax return that falsely stated to the IRS that the client owned a business and that the client had a business loss for the 2014 tax year. Count Three alleges that CALLAHAN committed financial aid fraud by falsely reporting the amount of income that she earned in 2015 to the Department of Education while applying for student loan forgiveness.

Sentencing will be on September 7, 2022, at which time CALLAHAN faces a maximum sentence of three years, up to one year of supervised release, and up to a $100,000 fine per tax count. The Department of Education count calls for a maximum sentence of five years, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. For each count, there is also a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Evans commended the special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Department of Education for their handling of the matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward J. Rivera.