Eastern District of Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that PATRICK HUSE, age 40, of Perkinston, Mississippi, pled guilty today to a violation of Title 33, United States Code, Section 1321(b)(3) and 1319(c)(1)(A).

According to today’s guilty plea, HUSE was employed as a “Person-in-Charge” ( “PIC”) on Main Pass 310A (“MP-310A”), an oil and gas production platform.  In July 2015, workers on MP-310A noticed a sheen on the surface of the surface of the water surrounding the platform. The sheen meant that the platform was discharging oil or other hazardous substances into the Gulf of Mexico. The workers alerted HUSE, a PIC on MP-310A. The workers told HUSE that they believed the sheen to be the result of sand buildup in filtration equipment on MP-310A. HUSE ordered the workers to remove the sand buildup from the filtration equipment in lieu of a complete shut-in, hoping the sheen would dissipate.  These measures failed to stop the platform from sheening, so the workers shut down the platform through an emergency shutdown of the entire platform.

HUSE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of one year, a fine of $2,500 to $25,000 per day of violation, a maximum term of supervised release of up to one year, and a $25 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing has been scheduled by District Judge Barry Ashe for July 7, 2022.

United States Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General, Energy Investigations Unit, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Spiro G. Latsis and J. Ryan McLaren are in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – STEPHONE BRIDGES, age 32, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty on March 31, 2022 before United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier to a one-count indictment charging him with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court documents, on August 15, 2021, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Task Force Officer conducted surveillance in the area of the 2200 block of North Galvez Street in New Orleans. The detective observed the handle of a firearm in BRIDGES’s front waistband as BRIDGES exited the steps and began to loiter on the sidewalk. The detective summoned marked units to the scene, and BRIDGES made sure his shirt was covering the object in his waistband before sitting down on the steps of the residence. Officers arrived in the area and approached BRIDGES. A Glock Model 49x, nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, bearing serial number BMDZ792 was removed from BRIDGES’s front waistband. The firearm was equipped with a red transparent magazine. The magazine contained 18 live rounds and one live round in the chamber of the firearm. BRIDGES was also in possession of Ecstasy and approximately three grams of crack cocaine. Prior to this, BRIDGES knew he had been convicted of crimes punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

BRIDGES faces a maximum term of (10) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, up to a $250,000.00 fine, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.

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 New Orleans Police Department, the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Rachal Cassagne is in charge of the prosecution.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   *          *          *

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that PALMA JEFFERSON, SR., 64, from Orleans Parish, pled guilty on March 31, 2022 to a one-count superseding bill of information, pursuant to a plea agreement with the government.  JEFFERSON, SR. was originally indicted by a federal grand jury on August 29, 2019.

During a surveillance operation, officers saw JEFFERSON, SR. conduct multiple narcotics transactions.  When police encountered him, he was in possession of a stolen firearm and cocaine.  Also, JEFFERSON, SR. admitted to being a cocaine addict.

JEFFERSON, SR. pled guilty to possession of a firearm while being an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(3).  At sentencing, JEFFERSON, SR. faces a maximum sentence of ten (10) years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three (3) years supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(a)(2).

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 Federal Bureau of Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Bücher.

NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that former United States Coast Guard employee ELDRIDGE JOHNSON has been charged on March 30, 2022 with bribery in a superseding bill of information.

JOHNSON was previously charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States in an indictment that pertained to JOHNSON’S conduct after he retired from the Coast Guard. The superseding bill of information includes that conspiracy charge and adds the new allegation of bribery, which relates to JOHNSON’S conduct as an examination administrator at a Coast Guard exam center Mandeville, Louisiana.

As alleged in the superseding bill of information’s bribery charge, beginning no later than 2011 and continuing until about the time of his retirement in January 2018, JOHNSON engaged in a scheme to receive bribes from merchant mariners who had applied for Coast Guard-issued 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. To conduct the scheme, JOHNSON, without authorization, removed confidential examination and answer documents from the exam center. To recruit participants, JOHNSON approached mariners when they appeared at the exam center, called mariners using contact information found in Coast Guard records, and encouraged past participants to refer other mariners to JOHNSON.

The conspiracy charge, which was included in the previously filed indictment, alleges that JOHNSON, following his retirement, acted as an intermediary for Coast Guard exam center employee Dorothy Smith in a scheme in which Smith entered false exam scores in exchange for money. Smith pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23, 2022.

The exams at issue were ones 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 licenses.

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.

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

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

*     *     *

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MICHAEL ALEXANDER, SR., a/k/a “Monsta,” a/k/a “Jamond,” age 39, ATTREL ANDERSON, a/k/a “Trey,” a/k/a “Trel,” a/k/a “Da Boi,” age 30, TERRELL HAYNES, a/k/a “Redman,”age 43, STAR ROBICHAUX, age 42, JOSHUA PRINE, age 41, MICHAEL ALEXANDER, JR., a/k/a “Mike Mike," age 21, BRANDON BAKER, age 36, and LOUIS BELLS, JR., age 21, residents of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, were charged on March 25, 2022, in a sealed twenty-count superseding indictment by a federal grand jury. The superseding indictment was unsealed on March 31, 2022.  Charges include conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, distribution of fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine, use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking crime, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

ALEXANDER, SR. is charged with conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of heroin, and a quantity of cocaine. He’s also charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents, on December 2, 2021, Drug Enforcement Administration Agents executed a federal search warrant on ALEXANDER, SR.’s home in Ponchatoula. During the search, Agents discovered approximately eleven ounces of heroin and fentanyl and five firearms.  Additionally, agents seized $289,224.70 in U.S. currency.

If convicted of the conspiracy count, ALEXANDER, SR. faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of ten years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.  For possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, he faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of five years, up to forty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, ALEXANDER, SR. faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, up to life imprisonment, to run consecutive with any other sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release. If convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, ALEXANDER, SR. faces up to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years supervised release. For using a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, ALEXANDER, SR. faces up to four years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to one year supervised release.

ANDERSON is charged with conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 100 grams or more of heroin. He’s also charged with distribution of methamphetamine and use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. For both the conspiracy count and the distribution count, ANDERSON faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of ten years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.  For using a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, ANDERSON faces up to four years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to one year supervised release.

HAYNES is charged with conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 1 kilogram or more of heroin. He’s also charged with distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl, and use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. For the conspiracy count, he faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of ten years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.  For distribution, HAYNES faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of five years, up to forty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For using a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, HAYNES faces up to four years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to one year supervised release.

PRINE and ROBICHAUX are charged with conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 1 kilogram or more of heroin. They are also charged with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of heroin. They each face a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of ten years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. ROBICHAUX is also charged with using a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, for which she faces up to four years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to one-year supervised release.

ALEXANDER, JR. is charged with conspiring to distribute quantities of heroin and methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and use of a communication facility in furtherance of drug trafficking. For both the conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute counts, ALEXANDER, JR. faces  up to twenty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, ALEXANDER, JR. faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, up to life imprisonment, to run consecutive with any other sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release. For using a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, he faces up to four years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to one year supervised release.

BAKER is charged with conspiring to distribute quantities of heroin and methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine. For both the conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute counts, BAKER faces  up to twenty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

BELLS is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, BELLS faces up to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years supervised release.

For each of the counts, the defendants face payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

“The indictments and subsequent arrests made in this investigation are part of DEA’s continuing effort to target violent drug traffickers at all levels, as part of Operation Overdrive.  Illicit drug trafficking and related violent criminal activity takes a tremendous toll on our communities. We will continue to work closely with our state and local law enforcement partners, leveraging our respective resources, in order to enhance the quality of life for the citizens in this region and beyond,” said Brad L. Byerley, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Orleans Field Division.

“The Hammond Police Department has demonstrated repeatedly that criminals and their criminal activity will not be tolerated in The City of Hammond. This is a great example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies work together,” stated Chief Edwin Bergeron Jr.

“This is law enforcement working together at every level, to hold people accountable for the crimes they commit and the havoc they bring to our community. The importance of collaboration at the federal, state and local levels is critical to ensuring the best outcome is reached in any case. This is yet another reminder of the ongoing need for strong relationships with our law enforcement partners to help protect the citizens of Tangipahoa Parish,” said Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Jimmy Travis.

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

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.

This case was investigated by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Hammond Police Department, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, St. Tammany Parish District Attorney’s Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that ASHLEY McGOWAN (“McGOWAN”), age 35, agreed to plead guilty on March 31, 2022 to Count One (1) in her indictment, charging Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.  In exchange, the government has agreed to dismiss Count Two (2), charging Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341 and 2.  In pleading guilty to Count 1, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years’ imprisonment; a term of supervised release of up to three (3) years; a fine up to $250,000.00, or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571; and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. Today’s guilty plea brings the total number of defendants convicted in “Operation Sideswipe” to thirty-three (33).

As part of her plea, McGOWAN admitted to being in a conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with a staged automobile collision.  In the scheme, McGOWAN falsely claimed that she was a passenger in a car that was struck by a tractor-trailer on June 8, 2016. In fact, the government’s evidence showed that the defendants conspired with Damien Labeaud (“Labeaud”), Keishira Robinson (“K. Robinson”), and others to intentionally collide K. Robinson’s Mazda with a tractor-trailer in the area of Chickasaw Street and Louisa Street in New Orleans.  McGOWAN later lied in her civil deposition, falsely claiming that K. Robinson was driving the car that collided with the tractor-trailer, when in fact Labeaud was driving the car and intentionally hit the tractor-trailer.  McGOWAN also falsely claimed that she was in the car at the time of the collision, even though she had been riding in a separate “spotter” or getaway car and entered the “slammer” car only after the collision occurred.  McGOWAN hoped that, through her false statements, she would secure lucrative monetary settlements from the owner, driver, and insurer of the tractor-trailer. 

Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for June 14, 2022, before United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office would 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 Brandon S. Long; Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria M. Carboni; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Rivera.

*   *   *

NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that JACOB WIEBELT (“WIEBELT”), age 39, of Ponchatoula, Louisiana,  was charged on March 28, 2022 in a one-count bill of information for Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Children in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B) and (B)(2). If convicted, WIEBELT faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten (10) years and a maximum sentence of up to twenty (20) years imprisonment, and/or a fine of up to $250,000.00, or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person of the offense under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571. In addition, WIEBELT faces a term of supervised release of no less than five (5) years and up to life after his release from prison. According to documents filed in federal court, WIEBELT was previously convicted in 2011 for Receipt of Child Pornography and sentenced to five (5) years in federal prison. WIEBELT was on supervised release when he committed this new offense.

Additionally, according to documents filed in federal court, the case against WIEBELT developed as a result of a lead to the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (“LBI”) that a user uploaded child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”) to the Discord messenger service. Specifically, the lead reflected that the user uploaded sexually explicit videos of children who were prepubescent in age.    

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.

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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations 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.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that CURTIS JOHNSON, JR., 30, of New Orleans, was found guilty today after a four-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk.  

The jury found JOHNSON guilty as charged in the second superseding indictment for Conspiracy to Obstruct and Obstruction of Commerce by Robbery, Murder, and Violations of the Federal Gun Control Act.   He will be sentenced on July 13, 2022.  JOHNSON faces a maximum term of life imprisonment.

In November 2019, co-defendants Jeremy Esteves and Robert Brumfield III were found guilty by a jury at trial, while co-defendants Lilbear George, Chukwudi Ofomata, and Jasmine Theophile  previously pleaded guilty.  George and Ofomata were sentenced to a 480-month term of imprisonment.  Esteves, Brumfield and Theophile will be sentenced on April 6, 2022.

According to court documents, on the morning of December 18, 2013, CURTIS JOHNSON, JR., along with co-defendants, George, Ofomata, and Jeremy Esteves, robbed a Loomis armored vehicle as it was making a delivery of approximately $265,000 to the Chase Bank at the intersection of S. Carrollton and S. Claiborne Avenues.  As the Loomis guard, Hector Trochez, prepared to make the delivery, George and Ofomata, both armed, exited the vehicle (a Chevy Tahoe stolen by George in preparation for the robbery), and ordered Trochez to give up the money.  Trochez pulled his weapon and fired at the robbers.  Ofomata and George fired their weapons in Trochez’s direction.  JOHNSON fired at the Loomis truck to keep the driver inside. Trochez was fatally struck on the left side of his forehead and suffered a graze wound to his elbow. One of the robbers ran towards the rear of the Loomis truck and took possession of the money bag before re-entering the Tahoe.  The robbers fled the Chase Bank parking lot.  

A witness seated in a vehicle at the corner of S. Claiborne and S. Carrollton Avenues observed the shooting and provided a description of the shooters and the vehicle they occupied.  That witness followed the Chevy Tahoe as it fled the location of the shooting/robbery.  During the vehicle’s flight, one of the shooters fired at the witness’s vehicle in an attempt to deter the witness from following.  The witness observed the Chevy Tahoe arrive in the 1700 block of Adams Street and saw the four robbers exit the Chevy Tahoe and enter the awaiting Honda Accord driven by Brumfield.  The Honda Accord fled the Adams Street location, leaving the Chevy Tahoe behind.

The Tahoe was recovered by the New Orleans Police Department and searched pursuant to a federal search warrant.  During the search, FBI agents observed that the steering wheel column of the vehicle had been breached. Agents located two screwdrivers on the floorboard and a bandana on the console.  The items were collected and submitted for DNA testing at the Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory.  An unknown DNA profile, later confirmed to be that of George, was recovered from one of the screwdrivers.  Likewise, the DNA recovered from the bandana was confirmed to be that of CURTIS JOHNSON, Jr.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the New Orleans Police Department and the Louisiana State Police.  Assistant United States Attorneys Brittany L. Reed, Gregory M. Kennedy, and Inga Petrovich prosecuted the matter.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on March 29, 2022 ANDREW PAYTON, age 48, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty to Count 1 of a grand jury indictment, charging him with possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, in violation of federal law. 

These charges stem from an investigation by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, the New Orleans Police Department, and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office into the illegal distribution of drugs that were being brought into both Orleans and St. Tammany Parishes back in 2019 from the Houston area.

Based on his guilty plea, PAYTON faces a mandatory minimum sentence of not less than five years and not more than forty years in prison, up to a fine of  $5,000,000.00 in fines, at least four years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.  PAYTON is scheduled to be sentenced on June 28, 2022. 

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

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that DEWAYNE COLEMAN (“COLEMAN”), age 22, of Marrero, Louisiana, was sentenced today for Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, arising out of staged automobile accidents with tractor-trailers occurring in New Orleans.

According to documents filed in federal court, COLEMAN, along with his co-defendants, conspired to commit mail fraud in connection with a staged accident occurring on September 6, 2017.  Thus far, the total number of defendants convicted in “Operation Sideswipe” is thirty-two (32).

COLEMAN admitted that on September 6, 2017, on the I-10 near the Almonaster exit, he was a passenger in co-defendant Erica Lee’s 2015 RAV4 being driven by their former co-defendant, when he intentionally crashed into a tractor-trailer owned by Averitt Express.  After the staged accident, the driver exited the RAV4 and told Erica Lee to get behind the wheel of the RAV4 to make it appear that Erica Lee was driving the vehicle at the time of the staged accident.  The defendants contacted the NOPD and falsely claimed that Erica Lee was the driver at the time of the collision.  COLEMAN retained counsel and made a claim for damages. The total settlement for the Averitt accident was $30,000.

On March 26, 2019, COLEMAN provided false testimony in depositions taken in conjunction with the Thompson Lawsuit.  In his deposition, COLEMAN lied about the September 6, 2017 accident including, but not limited to, who was driving the RAV4 and the extent of their injuries.

United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced COLEMAN to (12) twelve months of incarceration, followed by (3) three years supervised release, $ 121,076 in restitution, 100 hours of community service and a mandatory $100 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 – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that NICOLE COCKERHAM (“COCKERHAM”), age 42, of Houma, Louisiana, was charged on March 28, 2022 by a bill of information for Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.

According to the bill of information, 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.

U.S. Attorney Duane A. 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.

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.

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that RONALD S. RILEY, JR., (“RILEY’), age 26, of Slidell, Louisiana plead guilty on March 28 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charged in a bill of information filed February 7, 2022 in the Eastern District of Louisiana.

According to documents filed in federal court and signed by RILEY, RILEY was involved in stealing mail from postal receptacles located in the Greater New Orleans area. Items stolen from the mail included monetary instruments and banking information that RILEY used to create fraudulent checks. These fraudulent checks were then used to defraud a number of federally insured financial institutions. RILEY also stole and used the identity of other persons to execute the scheme to defraud.

The crime of conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of up to five years imprisonment, followed by up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. RILEY also faces the potential for the payment of  restitution to his victims. The penalty for aggravated identity theft is a mandatory two-year term of imprisonment that runs consecutive to any term of imprisonment imposed on the underlying offense, followed by up to one year of supervised release, a fine of up to  $250,000, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. RILEY is scheduled to be sentenced on June 28, 2022.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Secret Service, the Louisiana State Police, and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. and Richard R. Pickens, II are in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS – KENISHA R. CALLAHAN, age 44, and a resident of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, was charged by bill of information on March 25, 2022, by the U.S. Attorney for filing a false tax return, aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return and making a false statement to the Department of Education, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans .

As charged in the bill of information, 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 period. Count two alleges 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.

A bill of information merely alleges that crimes have been committed.  The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, CALLAHAN faces a maximum sentence of up to 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 up to five years, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.  If convicted, CALLAHAN will be required to pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for each count of conviction.

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.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon sentenced ELLIS BATISTE SR., age 50, of LaPlace, Louisiana, on March 24, 2022, to 72 months in the Bureau of Prisons for violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act, Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.   

According to the court records, in Count One, BATISTE conspired to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a quantity of cocaine hydrochloride, fentanyl, cocaine base, heroin, and methamphetamine. 

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

District Judge Lemmon sentenced BATISTE to the 72 months imprisonment to be followed by four years of supervised release as to Count One of the sSuperseding Bbill of Iinformation. Judge Lemmon also ordered that BATISTE pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

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.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that HENRY EDGARDO ORTIZ, age 42, a native of Honduras, was charged on March 25, 2022 in a one-count bill of information with illegally using a social security number in order to obtain employment, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B).

ORTIZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of not more than five (5) years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.   

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a 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 Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. is in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DAVID COULTER, age 33, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged on March 25, 2022 by a federal grand jury for violations of the Federal Gun Control Act. Specifically, he is charged in a two-count indictment 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, COULTER has a prior conviction for possessing cocaine and multiple convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm or weapon in Orleans Parish. Due to this criminal history, he is prohibited from having a firearm. He is now charged with possessing a Glock Model 34, nine-millimeter semi-automatic handgun on January 16 and January 18, 2022.

If convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, COULTER faces a maximum sentence on each count of up to ten (10) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a $100.00 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.  

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 New Orleans Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles D. Strauss.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that defendant KIRK THOMPSON, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on March 23rd by U.S. District Court Judge Lance Africk to 117 months imprisonment, 5 years supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment on Counts One and Two of a two-count superseding bill of information. 

Count One of the bill charged THOMPSON with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C).  As to Count Two, the superseding bill of information charged him with possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, that is, possession with intent to distribute both fentanyl and cocaine; all in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section, 924(c)(1)(A)(i).

On October 3, 2019, the New Orleans Police Department responded to call of a wanted subject, THOMPSON, seen in the 3000 block of Grand Route St. John in New Orleans, LA.  Upon the officers’ arrival, an individual in an apartment complex directed officers to the apartment where THOMPSON was seen.  Officers knocked on the apartment at which time a person answered the door who matched the description of THOMPSON and identified himself as “Kirk Thompson.”  Officers advised him of his right to remain silent.  THOMPSON eventually admitted to officers that there was a shotgun inside of the residence, and he had smoked narcotics inside the residence.  Officers elected to obtain a search warrant for the apartment based on THOMPSON’s statement about the narcotics and the firearm.  Inside the residence, officers located 11 firearms, including two assault rifles.  Officers also located approximately 89 grams of fentanyl and 300 grams of cocaine.

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 Federal Bureau of Investigations and the New Orleans Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

                                                                                                                                      *          *          *

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Kintrell WILLIAMS, a/k/a “Trell,” age 43, was sentenced in federal court on March 23, 2022 before U.S. District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to 3 years of probation for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D) and 846.

On October 17, 2019, WILLIAMS and his co-conspirators were named in a six-count second superseding indictment filed in this district, charging him with violations of the Federal Control Substances Act. On December 3, 2020, WILLIAMS pleaded guilty to count one of the second superseding indictment.

According to court documents, WILLIAMS and his co-conspirators sold drugs in the Hollygrove neighborhood in and around a corner-store in 2017 and 2018.

.U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New Orleans Gang Task Force.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Kathryn McHugh and Myles Ranier.

                                                                                                                             *          *          *

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that on March 23, 2022 ISHAIS PRICE (“PRICE”), age 41, of New Orleans, Louisiana, entered a plea of guilty today to 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 today’s guilty plea, 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. Today’s guilty plea brings the total number of defendants convicted in “Operation Sideswipe” to thirty-two (32).

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 a passenger 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.

PRICE faces a maximum sentence of five (5) years of incarceration. Upon release from prison, PRICE also faces a term of supervised release of up to (3) three years, and/or a fine of $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for June 14, 2022, before United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance.

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 – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 TRAVIS LEON MOORE, age 39, was sentenced in the United States District Court after pleading guilty to a one count indictment charging him 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).

MOORE was arrested by the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies after they were notified that he had threatened two individuals with a sawed-off shotgun.  The notification stemmed from a domestic dispute that involved MOORE’s partner and her family member.  Authorities retrieved the firearm after MOORE discarded the weapon out of a window.  After his arrest, MOORE admitted that he possessed the firearm.

United States District Court Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle imposed a sentence of 100 months in the federal Bureau of Prisons. Following his term of imprisonment, MOORE will be placed on supervised release for a period of 3 years. MOORE must pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.  The court did not impose a fine.

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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany L. Reed is in charge of the prosecution.

*   *   *

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Travis CARTER, a/k/a “Tree,” age 42, a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, pled guilty on March 17, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to a one-count indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), 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. Correctional officers conducted a search of CARTER’s person, which resulted in the discovery of six clear plastic bags containing approximately 165.27 grams of cocaine located in CARTER’s shoes.

CARTER faces up to twenty (20) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, at least three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

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

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ASHLEY GREEN, age 39, was sentenced on March 16, 2022 to 15 months in federal prison after pleading guilty as charged, to a one count Bank Larceny Bill of Information in August 2021. Earlier, her co-defendants, BRANDON LIVAS, age 37 and ROYALE LASSAI, age 32, both from New Orleans, Louisiana pled guilty as charged to a one-count bill of information with Bank Larceny, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(b). 

In papers filed with the court, GREEN admitted that LASSAI was employed in a Metairie, Louisiana medical clinic. LASSAI, without authority, obtained personal information of patients including dates of birth, social security numbers and addresses. LASSAI sold the information to her cousin, GREEN, who used this information to fraudulently obtain debit cards issued by the victim banks, Capital One and Whitney.  These fraudulently obtained cards were mailed to an address controlled by GREEN. GREEN and LIVAS then used the cards to withdraw at least $200,000 from the victim’s accounts. LASSAI was paid at least $1,000 to pilfer the patient’s information from the Metairie clinic.

The court ordered GREEN to pay $205,863 in restitution.  Also, she must serve three years of supervised release after she gets out of prison.

U.S. Attorney Duane Evans praised the work of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service, in investigating the matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. is in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS – RYAN P. MULLEN, age 41, of Jayess, Mississippi, pleaded guilty on March 16, 2022 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of money laundering before U.S. District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

As charged in the now unsealed indictment, MULLEN and a co-conspirator, Duane Dufrene, utilized fictitious entities, falsified tax returns, fraudulent financial statements, and fraudulent appraisals to orchestrate their scheme to defraud the lenders for the purchases of a residence in Jayess, MS (State Bank and Trust), The Briars bed and breakfast in Natchez, MS (Keesler Federal Credit Union) and two other Natchez hotels (Red Oak Capital Group, LLC).  The sale of the Jayess residence was premised on false financial information provided by Dufrene to MULLEN, who then gave it to State Bank and Trust. The sales of The Briars and the two hotels were not only premised upon false information prepared by Dufrene and given to the financial institutions by MULLEN but also on inflated appraisals based upon side sales agreements between MULLEN and Dufrene. After the sales of the bed and breakfast and hotel properties, MULLEN paid Dufrene the sum of $90,000. MULLEN pocketed over $3 million from the overvalued loans and he used the proceeds to buy at least 20 high-end luxury cars, a number of which have been seized by the United States.

Sentencing for MULLEN is set for July 13, 2022. At that time, he faces a maximum sentence of up to thirty years as to the bank fraud conspiracy, and a maximum sentence of up to ten years on the money laundering conspiracy. After imprisonment, the defendant faces up to five years of supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine on the bank fraud count, and up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine on the money laundering count. Each count also has a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.

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

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that BORIS GORDON, age 27 of Marrero, was sentenced on March 17, 2022 after pleading guilty to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(a)(6) and 924(a)(2) on August 19, 2021.

According to court documents, on December 30, 2015, GORDON falsely stated to a federally licensed firearm dealer that he was the actual purchaser of a Glock Model 21, .45 caliber pistol, when he knew that he was not the actual buyer.

United States District Court Judge Barry W. Ashe sentenced GORDON to 6 months of home confinement to be followed by 1 year of probation. The court also ordered GORDON to pay 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 Duane A. Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Shih is in charge of the prosecution.

NEW ORLEANS –  U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that WILSON ROMERO, age 55, of Katy, Texas, was sentenced on March 17, 2022 by United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe after previously pleading guilty to violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act. 

Specifically, WILSON ROMERO previously pled guilty to one count of possession with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B).

According to court documents, during a traffic stop on May 6, 2019, ROMERO was found with 994 grams of heroin hidden in a vacuum cleaner in the trunk of his vehicle.  ROMERO subsequently admitted that he had paid $32,000 for the heroin and was trafficking it from Houston to New Orleans.

Judge Ashe sentenced ROMERO to a term of imprisonment of 46 months, followed by 2 years of supervised release and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. 

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Louisiana State Police in investigating this case.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maria M. Carboni and Jonathan L. Shih.

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TYRONE DILLING, age 27, of New Orleans, Louisiana pleaded guilty on March 17, 2022, to unlawfully opening the mail before the Honorable Barry W. Ashe, District Court Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana.

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. 

The maximum penalty for the offense is five years imprisonment and/or a fine of $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 mandatory special assessment of one hundred dollars. 

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 – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TYRONE DILLING, age 27, of New Orleans, Louisiana pleaded guilty on March 17, 2022, to unlawfully opening the mail before the Honorable Barry W. Ashe, District Court Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana.

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. 

The maximum penalty for the offense is five years imprisonment and/or a fine of $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 mandatory special assessment of one hundred dollars. 

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 –  U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that DANTE BOWMAN, age 22, and a resident of Lake Worth, Florida, was charged in a one count indictment by a federal grand jury with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A).

According to the indictment, on October 19, 2021, BOWMAN possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of Count One, BOWMAN faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, at least five years 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 Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana State Police. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney David Howard Sinkman.

NEW ORLEANS –  U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that that DENIS J. JOACHIM, age 55, DONNA K. JOACHIM, age 55, residents of Covington, Louisiana, and their company, The Total Financial Group, Inc. (“TTFG”), having previously pled guilty, were sentenced on March 17, 2022 by United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier, for their roles in creating, marketing, and operating what it claimed to be a Medical Reimbursement Program.  After characterizing their conduct as a “massive fraud scheme”, Judge Barbier sentenced DENIS J. JOACHIM to 97 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment fee, DONNA K. JOACHIM to 12 months and 1 day in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment fee, and TTFG to 1 year of probation and a $2,400 special assessment fee.  As part of the guilty plea, the defendants have agreed to forfeit assets previously seized with a collective value of approximately $6,300,000. A hearing to determine the amount and apportionment of restitution was scheduled for June 9, 2022, at 9:30 am.

As a condition of their pleas, DENIS and DONNA JOACHIM also agreed to be barred from serving as consultants or advisors to any labor organization or employee benefit plan for a period of thirteen (13) years from the end of their terms of imprisonment.  Additionally, TTFG’s Executive National Marketing Director, JOSEPH ANTHONY BORINO, is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter on June 30, 2022.

According to court documents, TTFG was a Louisiana business incorporated by DENIS and DONNA JOACHIM with the Louisiana Secretary of State on about January 6, 2005, that was most recently located at 406 N. Florida Street, Covington, Louisiana.  TTFG and its owners created and marketed a Medical Reimbursement Account program called “Classic 105.”  Classic 105 claimed to be a multiple employer welfare arrangement that was marketed to employers as a supplemental benefits plan to reimburse their employees for medical expenses such as co-pays and deductibles. Participants in Classic 105 were required to have a primary health insurance plan unrelated to and in addition to Classic 105.  Classic 105 claimed to be comprised of several components: a tax-exempt contribution of between $1,000 and $1,600 per month made by an employee (which reduced the employee’s taxable income), a loan from a lender back to the employee to make up for the contribution, an insurance policy payable to the lender at the employee’s death to repay the loan, and fees paid by the employee and the employer directly to TTFG.  TTFG told prospective employer-clients that participants would never have to make out-of-pocket payments to repay the loan and that as a result of the tax savings, most participants would receive an increase in their net take home pay.  TTFG also told prospective employer- clients that the contributions would be stored in a unique account for each employee-participant and that any money not used by the end of each calendar year would revert to TTFG.  TTFG also charged employee-participants a fee of between $150 and $250 per month and the employer a fee of five percent of each employee’s contribution amount.  At its peak, over 350 employer-clients and 4,400 employee-participants nationwide were enrolled in TTFG’s Classic 105 program. In total, TTFG took in not less than at least $25,543,340.70 in fees from the employer-clients and employee-participants.

In fact, TTFG never obtained a single loan or insurance policy for the Classic 105 program, and participants never made any actual contributions.  Rather, TTFG arranged for the contribution, loan, and insurance policy to appear as a series of “paper transactions” that, in effect, did nothing more than reduce participants’ taxable wages and employers’ FICA payments improperly, without their knowledge of the impropriety.  Consequently, TTFG and the JOACHIMS caused the underpayment of at least $23,343,442.70 in federal FICA taxes, as well as the underreporting and underpayment of personal federal income taxes, federal unemployment taxes, and state unemployment taxes—amounts for which the employer-clients and employee-participants may be individually responsible. 

In truth, the only money actually paid to TTFG were the fees, which the JOACHIMS for personal expenses, including the purchase of a 26-foot boat, a 2016 Grand Design Solitude recreational trailer, a Chevrolet Corvette, a Jeep Wrangler, a Dodge Ram truck, a Mercedes-Benz CL 550 automobile, a GMC Yukon XL Denali, multiple CAN-AM Maverick 1000R off-road vehicles, jet skis, their Covington residence, real property located adjacent to their Covington residence, two (2) residences located in Madisonville, Louisiana, 40 acres of property in Bush, Louisiana, and 125 acres of property in Spring City, Tennessee. 

The Court’s previous forfeiture orders were made part of the defendants’ sentences.  Consequently, TTFG and the JOACHIMS have forfeited all right, title, and interest in the following assets to the United States of America: $791,304.83 from seized bank accounts, 2013 Chaparral Boat, 2014 Chevrolet Corvette, 2016 Jeep Wrangler, 2016 Dodge Ram 3500 Pickup Truck, 2012 Mercedes Benz CL550, 2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali, 2016 Can-Am Maverick 1000R Turbo XDS, 2016 Can-Am Outlander 1000R XMR, 2016 Grand Design Reflection Recreational Trailer, (2) 2016 Sea-Doo RXT-X-300 Jet Skis, 2015 Sea-Doo GTX-LTD IS 260, (3) Boat Trailers, 23185 Highway 1084, Covington, LA, 26169 Highway 40, Bush, LA, acreage in Rhea County, Tennessee, and 41 Rue Du Sud, Madisonville, LA.  

“The defendants targeted unsuspecting employers luring them into this fraudulent scheme that caused severe tax issues for both employers and their employees,” said U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana.  “Schemes such as these have a profound effect on their victims, not only by the monies lost in the scheme, and the time and effort to repair the adverse effects of the fraudulent plot, but also by stoking public distrust.   Our office, along with our investigative partners, remains committed to investigate these crimes and prosecute all those that are intent in defrauding the American public." 

"This sentencing demonstrates the steadfast work of the FBI and our partners in bringing to justice individuals like Mr. Dennis Joachim and Mrs. Donna Joachim who engage in fraudulent schemes that impact our health care programs,” said, Douglas A. Williams, FBI New Orleans. "We thank our partners at United States Attorney's Office Eastern District of Louisiana, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Division, Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration, for their collaborative efforts in disrupting criminal actors who cause damage to the American healthcare system.”

“The Total Financial Group, Inc. and its’ owner Denis and Dona Joachim, fraudulently used a multiple employee welfare arrangement plan to defraud participants and unjustly enrich themselves in complete disregard of the fiduciary duty they owed to the plan employers and their workers. The successful prosecution of these defendants reinforces the OIG’s continued commitment to working with our partner federal agencies to safeguard American workers from organizations and individuals engaged in these types of illicit fraud schemes,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Steven Grell of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Dallas Region.

"Defendants illegally enriched themselves at the expense of hard-working employees and their employers, and today they were held accountable,” said Mark Underwood, Acting Regional Director for the U. S. Department of Labor Employee Benefit Security Administration. “This case demonstrates how federal agencies work together to vigorously enforce criminal violations committed against employee benefit plans and their participants.”

“The defendants sentenced today share one trait in common – greed,” said Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Their desire for money, power and material items, drove them to perpetrate crimes against our tax system and prey upon many of the vulnerable in our society. Thanks to the financial expertise and diligence of IRS-CI special agents, who worked side-by-side with other federal and state law enforcement officers to uncover these schemes, these criminals now face the consequences of their actions.”

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the United States Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General and Employment Benefits Security Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and expressed appreciation for the support provided by Senior Trial Attorney Rebecca Pyne, Department of Justice, Organized Crime and Gang Section, Labor-Management Racketeering Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Corruption Unit, Maria M. Carboni, and Andre Lagarde were in charge of the prosecutions.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that LATRELL JOHNSON (“JOHNSON”), age 30, of New Orleans, pled guilty on March 16, 2022, to count one (1) of her indictment, charging Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.  In exchange, the government has agreed to dismiss two counts of Mail Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341 and 2.  In pleading guilty to count 1, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of up to five (5) years’ imprisonment; a term of supervised release of up to three (3) years; and a fine of up to $250,000.00, as well as a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. Today’s guilty plea brings the total number of defendants convicted in Operation Sideswipe to 31.

According to court documents, JOHNSON falsely claimed that she was a passenger in a car that was struck by a tractor-trailer on May 11, 2017. In fact, the defendant conspired with Damian Labeaud (“Labeaud”), Mario Solomon (“Solomon”), and others to intentionally collide with a tractor-trailer in the area of Chef Menteur Highway and Downman Road in New Orleans.  After the intentional collision, JOHNSON filed a fraudulent lawsuit claiming that the tractor-trailer was at fault and lied in a deposition.  This scheme caused the insurance company for the tractor-trailer to pay over $140,000.00 in settlement funds for the May 11, 2017 collision.  The Honorable Jane Triche Milazzo set sentencing in this matter for July 13, 2022.

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

NEW ORLEANS –  U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that BRYANT DAIGRE, age 33, of Garyville, Louisiana, pled to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846. 

According to court documents, DAIGRE conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Louisiana.  Additionally, on August 15, 2020, DAIGRE possessed over 50 grams of methamphetamine in St. John the Baptist Parish. 

DAIGRE faces a sentence of between 5 years and 40 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, at least 4 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.  Chief U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown set sentencing for June 23, 2022.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this case.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Shih.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JAVORIOUS SCOTT, aka JAYDAYOUNGAN, age 23, a Bogalusa resident and rapper pled guilty on March 16, 2022 before United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance to a one-count indictment charging 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 Model Security-9, nine-millimeter, pistol, bearing serial Number 384-77996 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.  On March 31st, 2020, a grand jury in Harris County, Texas returned two indictments for possession of a controlled substance weighing more than 4 grams and less than 200 grams.  Also, the grand jury charged SCOTT with assault of a pregnant person.

SCOTT faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100.00 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.

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

NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DEMETRIA MYERS SILVIO, age 32, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on March 15, 2022 for Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343.  SILVIO pled guilty to this offense on October 12, 2021.

According to court documents, between December 3, 2018 and December 6, 2019, SILVIO forged approximately 66 checks that were drawn on IberiaBank accounts belonging to five customers.  SILVIO deposited the fraudulent checks into her own bank accounts with Chase Bank and Capital One.  Through this scheme, SILVIO embezzled over $63,000.00.

U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter sentenced SILVIO to three (3) years probation.  In addition, SILVIO was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $63,486.18 to IberiaBank and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria M. Carboni.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JEREMY TALBERT, age 26, from Memphis, Tennessee, was charged today in a one-count bill of information for his role in bringing a fourteen-year-old female from Memphis, Tennessee to New Orleans, Louisiana for the purpose of having her perform commercial sex acts in or about October 2020 and continuing until on or about December 17, 2020.  For this alleged conduct, the bill of information charges TALBERT 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, 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 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.

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a bill of information 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 and the New Orleans 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, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that WAYNE TRICHE, 72, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and tax fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343 and Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1), respectively.

According to Court documents, TRICHE was responsible for managing a portion of the New Orleans  Firefighters Pension and Relief Fund’s (“NORPRF”) investments.  Rather than return the profits earned to the NOPRF, TRICHE embezzled approximately $937,658.77 and used those funds for personal expenses such as a civil court judgment, credit card charges, and gambling.  The tax fraud charges stem from TRICHE’s failure to claim the embezzled funds on his personal income tax returns, resulting in tax due and owing to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $329,895.00.

As to the wire fraud charge, TRICHE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.   As to the tax fraud, TRICHE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three (3) years, a fine of up to $100,000, up to one year of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.  TRICHE will be sentenced on June 14, 2022.

“Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message that individuals like Mr. Wayne Triche who engage in financial fraud will be discovered and held accountable. The FBI is determined to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who are committing financial crimes to enrich themselves at the expense of others,” said FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams, Jr. “We thank our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Louisiana and Internal Revenue Service for their strong partnership and unrelenting pursuit of justice.” 

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracey N. Knight.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TAURUS RUSSELL, age 43, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana was sentenced on March 10, 2022 to a three-count superseding bill of information.  In Count 1, RUSSELL was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine hydrochloride in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), and 846.  In Count 2, RUSSELL was charged with use of communication facilities to further a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(b).  In Count 3, HARRIS was charged with use of communication facilities to further a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(b). 

According to court documents, RUSSELL conspired with other members of a drug trafficking organization to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute crack cocaine.  Additionally, RUSSELL used a communication facility, the telephone, to facilitate the distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. 

United States District Court Judge Susie Morgan sentenced RUSSELL on March 10, 2022.  For Count 1, RUSSELL received a term of imprisonment of 120 months, a period of supervised release of 4 years, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.  For Counts 2 and 3, RUSSELL was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 48 months, a period of supervised release of 1 year per count, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 per count.  All terms of imprisonment and supervised release are to run concurrently.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.  This case was prosecuted by Brittany Reed, André Jones, and Melissa Bücher of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

*   *   *

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that RACHEL COONEY, age 37, of Metairie, Louisiana was indicted on March 11, 2022 for Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.

According to the indictment, beginning in November 2015 and continuing through January 2020, COONEY collected Social Security Administration benefits paid to a deceased relative.  It is alleged that, in total, COONEY fraudulently received approximately $76,139 in Social Security Administration benefits to which she was not entitled.

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.

If convicted, COONEY 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. 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 Rachal Cassagne.

*          *          *

NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today the indictment of JAYDEN D. D. HALL, age 21, of Harvey, Louisiana, who was charged on March 11, 2022 in a five-count federal indictment for crimes involving child exploitation.

HALL was charged with one count of Production of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Children in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) and (e); three counts of Transportation of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Children in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(1) and (b)(1); and one count of Obstruction of Justice, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1519.

If convicted of the production count, HALL faces a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years up to a maximum sentence of thirty years of imprisonment. If convicted of the transportation counts, HALL faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to a maximum sentence of twenty years of imprisonment. If convicted of the obstruction count, HALL faces up to twenty years of imprisonment.

For the production and transportation counts, HALL also faces a term of supervised release of no less than five years and up to life after his release from prison. For the obstruction count, HALL faces up to three years of supervised release. For each count, HALL faces a fine of up to $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person as a result of these offenses, and payment of 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.

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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas D. Moses.

NEW ORLEANS –  U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that QUINCY WHITE, age 41, and a resident of Mobile, Alabama, was charged on March 11, 2022 in a one count indictment by a federal grand jury with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A).

According to the indictment, on October 24, 2020, WHITE possessed with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. If convicted of Count One, WHITE faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, at least five years 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 the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office, and the St. John Parish Sheriff's Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney David Howard Sinkman.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that REYNAUD KENDRELL VARISTE (“VARISTE”), age 32, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced to 81 months imprisonment and a $200.00 mandatory special assessment fee after pleading guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A) and possession with intent to distribute heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). Upon release from imprisonment, VARISTE will be placed on supervised release for 3 years.

On July 12, 2018, VARISTE was charged in a three-count indictment by a federal grand jury with possessing heroin with the intent to distribute, using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 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 work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn M. McHugh prosecuted the case. 

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that COREY ENCLARDE, a/k/a “Murda,” age 53, a resident of Violet, Louisiana plead guilty to two counts of a superseding indictment.  In Count 1, ENCLARDE was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine hydrochloride in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and 846.  In Count 14, ENCLARDE was charged with use of communication facilities to further a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(b).  

According to court documents, ENCLARDE conspired with other members of a drug trafficking organization to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride.  Additionally, ENCLARDE used a communication facility, the telephone, to facilitate the distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride. 

United States District Court Judge Susie Morgan will sentence ENCLARDE on June 7, 2022. For Count 1, ENCLARDE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of up to 20 years, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, a period of supervised release of at least 3 years, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.  For Count 14, ENCLARDE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of up to 4 years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release of up to 1 year, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  This case was prosecuted by Brittany Reed, Andre Jones, and Melissa Bucher of the Violent Crime/Strike Force Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JAMES WATTS, age 50, a resident of Amite, Louisiana, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon yesterday 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.

WATTS faces a mandatory minimum term of five years, up to forty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. 

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

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SIDNEY SIMON, age 37, a resident of New Orleans, was charged on March 4, 2022 in a five-count indictment by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing a firearm after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, possessing body armor after being convicted of a violent felony, possessing with the intent to distribute marijuana, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime,  announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

If convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, SIMON faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

If convicted of possessing a firearm after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, SIMON faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

If convicted of possessing body armor after being convicted of a violent felony, SIMON faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three (3) years, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to one (1) year of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

If convicted of possessing with the intent to distribute marijuana, SIMON faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least two (2) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.  

If convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, SIMON faces a minimum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, to be served consecutively to all other charges, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five (5) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.  SIMON must also pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for each charge.  

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.

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

NEW ORLEANS, LA – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today that JAMES MOHAMAD, 52, of Kenner, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to use an interstate facility with intent to carry on unlawful activity (Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 1952(a)(3)) and filing false tax returns (Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1)).

According to Court documents, MOHAMAD, the former Director of the Department of Inspection and Code Enforcement for the City of Kenner, paid bribe money to Brian Medus, the Assistant Chief Mechanical Inspector for the City of New Orleans, Safety and Permits Department, in return for the issuance of fraudulent permits for MOHAMAD’s HVAC jobs. Throughout the course of the conspiracy, MOHAMAD paid Medus and others approximately $93,000 to further the bribery scheme.  Additionally, MOHAMAD filed false individual tax returns which omitted substantial amounts of income resulting in an understated amount of income tax due.

As to the conspiracy charge, MOHAMAD faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.   As to the tax fraud, MOHAMAD faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three (3) years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.  MOHAMAD will be sentenced on July 13, 2022.

A co-defendant, Brian Medus, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and is scheduled for sentencing on May 18, 2022.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, and the City of New Orleans/Office of Inspector General.  Assistance was also provided by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. Assistant United States Attorney Tracey N. Knight is prosecuting the matter.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that   RODNEY ROUSSELL (“ROUSSELL”), age 40, of Belle Rose, Louisiana, pled guilty today to bank fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344(2).

According to documents filed in federal court, the case against ROUSSELL began as a result of a complaint from a local company (“Company A”) to the FBI. According to the bill of information, in August, 2017, ROUSSELL began working for Company A. Company A maintained its operational headquarters in New Orleans, Louisiana. Company A maintained a business account with JPMorgan Chase Bank (“Chase Bank”). Company A’s salary payments to ROUSSELL were made electronically and drawn on Company A’s account.

As Company A’s employee, ROUSSELL did not have access to Company A’s Chase Bank account, and was not authorized to make payments of any kind using funds in the account. Beginning in or about April 2018, and continuing until in or about June 2018, ROUSSELL utilized Chase Bank’s web portal and mobile banking app to transfer money from Company A’s account to pay the balance of ROUSSELL’s personal bank card.  In total, ROUSSELL obtained $213,372.05 from Company A’s Chase Bank account.

ROUSSELL faces a maximum penalty of thirty (30) years imprisonment, followed by up to five (5) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.  Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for June 14, 2022, before United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 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, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige O’Hale.

*   *   *

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DEMARQUIEZ HARRIS (“D. HARRIS”), age 26, a resident of Bogalusa, Louisiana, was sentenced on March 3, 2022, by United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter to 262 months’ imprisonment and 60 months of supervised release after pleading guilty to five counts of a twelve-count indictment charging him and two of his brothers with several narcotics offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.  D. HARRIS pled guilty to counts 1, 4, 6, 7, and 8 of the indictment.  The counts of conviction are as follows:

Count 1-Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five hundred (500) grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine;

Count 4-Distribution of fifty (50) grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine;

Count 6-Distribution of a quantity of cocaine base;

Count 7- Distribution of fifty (50) grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine; and

Count 8- Distribution of quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, special agents with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives identified D. HARRIS’s brother Trevion Harris as a methamphetamine trafficker in Bogalusa, Louisiana.  Beginning in November of 2018 through May 1, 2019, special agents successfully purchased methamphetamine from Trevion Harris and his brothers, Jonzarrion and D. HARRIS, in amounts ranging from two (2) grams to as many as eight (8) ounces.

In addition to his terms of imprisonment and supervised release, D. HARRIS must pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $500.00. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Bogalusa Police Department as part of an extensive investigation of individuals suspected of trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine and/or firearms in the Bo0galusa area.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones.

                                                                                                                              *          *          *

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ANTOINE MERCHANT, age 33, of New York, New York, was sentenced on March 3, 2022 by U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Barbier of the Eastern District of Louisiana to three (3) years of probation for conspiracy to pass altered U.S. Postal money orders, passing altered U.S. Postal money orders and possessing stolen U.S. government property.

According to court records, MERCHANT and a co-defendant, Anthony Smalls, travelled from New York to Louisiana in October of 2019 to cash stolen U.S. Postal money orders that had been altered to show amounts worth hundreds of dollars. MERCHANT and Smalls cashed two such postal money orders in Kenner and Metairie, LA. When arrested, the defendants also possessed 58 U.S. Postal money orders that they had stolen from an Ascension Parish U.S. Post Office the day before.

In addition to probation, MERCHANT was ordered to pay restitution to the U.S. Postal Service in the amount of $5,675.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $400.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, along with assistance from the Louisiana State Police - Criminal Investigations Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, in investigating this matter.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera was in charge of the prosecution.

*     *     *

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that STACEY V. SANTEMORE, SR., age 46, formerly of New Orleans but now a resident of Houston, Texas, was charged on March 3, 2022 in a two-count bill of information with making false statements and theft of government funds related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, to provide emergency financial assistance in connection with economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.  One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP.  The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1%. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be forgiven if the business spends the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time after receiving the proceeds and uses at least a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses.  In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.

In addition, the CARES Act created a temporary federal unemployment insurance program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) after a major disaster declaration for this funding. PUA, administered by the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC), provided unemployment insurance benefits for individuals who are not eligible for other types of unemployment benefits (e.g., the self-employed, independent contractors, or gig economy workers).

According to the charging documents, SANTEMORE, in July 2020, made false statements to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining pandemic-related relief loans funded by the federal government, including PPP funds, which he received in the amount of approximately $89,000.

SANTEMORE also applied for Louisiana unemployment benefits through the LWC with PUA funding despite at all times being fully employed by Amtrak, the national passenger railcar company. He obtained more than $1,000 from April 2020 through March 2021, and this amounts to a theft of government funds.

SANTEMORE faces a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release for the false statements count. He faces up to ten years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release for the theft count.   There is also a $100 mandatory special assessment fee due after conviction. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

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.

For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Amtrak Office of Inspector General – Criminal Investigations and the Department of Labor – Office of the Inspector General, in investigating this matter.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera is in charge of the prosecution.

                                                                                                                                          *     *     *

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – GRAHAM LOVELACE, age 33, of Greenville, South Carolina, was charged on March 3, 2022 in a one-count bill of information with interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to the bill of information, in October 2021, LOVELACE traveled from Greenville, South Carolina to the Greater New Orleans, Louisiana area by automobile for the purposes of engaging in sexual conduct with a fifteen-year-old minor.

If convicted, LOVELACE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of not more than thirty (30) years, followed by a minimum of five (5) years and up to a maximum lifetime term of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.  LOVELACE may also be required to register as a sex offender.  

United States 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.

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.

The case is being investigated by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg and Melissa Bücher.

NEW ORLEANS –  ZACHARY VERDIN, age 29, a resident of Marrero, was sentenced this week by United States District Judge Susie Morgan, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. VERDIN was sentenced on March 3, 2022 to 48 months of incarceration, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment fee, as to each count. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $14,061. 

According to Count One of the bill of information, on July 19, 2021, VERDIN robbed a Capital One Bank in Marrero, Louisiana. He obtained approximately $521 in the robbery. According to Count Two of the bill of information, on July 26, 2021, VERDIN robbed a Chase Bank located in New Orleans, Louisiana. He obtained approximately $1,000 in that robbery. According to Count Three of the bill of information, on August 2, 2021, VERDIN robbed a Regions Bank in Gretna, Louisiana. He obtained approximately $12,540 in that robbery.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crime Task Force, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, New Orleans Police Department, and St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Maestri is in charge of the prosecution.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  *   *   *