Western District of Louisiana

LAFAYETTE, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Kevin M. Berken, 60, of Lake Arthur, Louisiana, has been sentenced by Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Berken was sentenced to two years of probation, ordered to pay a fine of $5,000, and all of his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges have been revoked for the two-year term of probation. Berken was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service.

Berken was charged in a bill of information with one count of violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act by taking more than the daily bag limit of ducks in any one calendar day. According to evidence presented in court, Berken was an experienced waterfowl hunter, frequently hunted in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, and participated in two hunts for ducks on December 27, 2018.  During the first hunt on December 27, 2018, Berken and other hunters jointly shot, killed, and possessed 10 ducks. In a second hunt later that day, Berken and another hunter shot, killed, and possessed 12 more ducks.  Agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service encountered Berken and three other hunters that day and found them to be in possession of 29 various species of ducks. This was a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in that they exceeded the daily bag limit of six ducks per hunter in one calendar day. Berken pleaded guilty to the charge and admitted to taking more than the daily bag limit of ducks. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Louisiana Department of Fish and Wildlife Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danny Siefker prosecuted the case.

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MONROE, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced the resolution of four cases today in United States District Court in the Western District of Louisiana. United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced the following individuals today:

Devonte Oshay Gater, 29, of West Monroe, Louisiana, was sentenced 70 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegal possession of a firearm.  On April 6, 2020, officers with the Monroe Police Department responded to a 911 call complaining that an unknown person jumped into someone’s car threatening to rob someone nearby and shoot up the street. When officer arrived, they found Gater sitting in the backseat of the car. When ordered to get out of the car, Gater told officers he could not walk due to wounds suffered in a shooting a few days prior. Officers opened the door and Gater inched his way down to the ground. During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered a loaded revolver in the front passenger seat under a t-shirt. The female vehicle owner told officers the gun was not hers and that she had seen Gater brandishing the weapon prior to the arrival of the officers.

Gater has previous felony convictions for simple robbery (2011); theft of a motor vehicle and simple burglary (2015); and simple burglary (2018). As a convicted felon, Gater is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

The ATF and Monroe Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown prosecuted the case.

Rayyun Derrell Sledge, 43, of Winnsboro, Louisiana, was sentenced 12 months and 1 day in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. Sledge was convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence in June 1999 and signed documentation acknowledging the waiver of his rights at that time. On May 8, 2020, Sledge went to Mike’s Gun Shop in Winnsboro to purchase a firearm. When completing ATF Form 4473 in connection with his attempted purchase of a pistol, Sledge signed the form certifying that his answers were true, correct and complete. A question on the form asked, “[h]ave you ever been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence?” Sledge checked “no” to the question and signed his name, knowing that his answer was false. This false response from Sledge misled and deceived Mike’s Gun shop into making the sale of the firearm to him. Sledge was charged and pled guilty on May 28, 2021.

The ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick prosecuted the case.

John Edward McIntyre, 37, of West Monroe, Louisiana, was sentenced 180 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegal possession of drugs and a firearm. On January 12, 2020, deputies with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on McIntyre for multiple traffic violations. Deputies noticed a digital scale in the cup holder of the vehicle. A K-9 officer alerted to the odor of illegal drugs coming from the Tahoe that McIntyre was driving, and deputies conducted a search of the vehicle. Inside the Tahoe, deputies found a backpack which contained a magnetic box with approximately 120 grams of methamphetamine, Clonazepam, Xanax and Concerta tablets, a hydrocodone tablet, 10 grams of marijuana, a large amount of cash, and a loaded semi-automatic pistol. At one point, law enforcement officers learned that McIntyre was distributing illegal drugs from a house located across the street from the West Monroe High School stadium. McIntyre was charged in this case with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and he pled guilty to the charges on May 25, 2021.

The DEA, ATF, and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moody prosecuted the case.

Benjamin Strong, 39, Mangham, Louisiana, was sentenced to 125 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The vehicle Strong was driving was stopped by Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies on January 17, 2020. Strong gave deputies consent to search the vehicle and they found methamphetamine and three handguns inside. Strong admitted to driving his co-defendant around the Monroe in exchange for money and methamphetamine. He further admitted to meeting with multiple people to sell narcotics and to taking his co-defendant to a supplier to purchase more methamphetamine. Strong was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and pled guilty to the charge on May 25, 2021.

The DEA, ATF, and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moody prosecuted the case.

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TYLER, Texas – A Henderson man has been sentenced to federal prison for violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Paul Wayne Kennedy, 39, pleaded guilty on April 19, 2021, to burglary of a United States Post Office, possession of stolen mail, possession of stolen money orders, damage to government property, theft of government property, and access device fraud.   Kennedy was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle.

“Americans should know that their postal items and post office boxes are protected by the dedicated men and women of the Department of Justice and the United States Postal Inspection Service,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.  “When you send a letter or package, or order an item, have confidence that your mail is secure, and that any would-be thieves, like Mr. Kennedy, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Securing Postal Service facilities and safeguarding the U.S. Mail are top priorities for the Postal Inspection Service,” said Thomas Noyes, Inspector in Charge of the Fort Worth Division. “Suspects thinking they can target the U.S. Postal Service and avoid capture are committing an egregious error in judgment.  We will commit all available resources to investigations of this nature, relentlessly pursue offenders and bring them to justice.  Both suspects in this investigation have now been sentenced, made possible by the many hours of work and cumulative efforts of U.S. Postal Inspectors, multiple local law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Texas.”

According to information presented in court, between the afternoon of Dec. 23, 2019 and the morning of Dec. 26, 2019, Kennedy burglarized post offices in Price, Texas; Bronson, Texas; Bon Wier, Texas; and Evans, Louisiana and attempted to burglarize post offices in Newton, Texas, and Singer, Louisiana. At each location he burglarized, Kennedy stole mail, packages, and property belonging to the U.S. Postal Service.  At the Price, Texas, and Bronson, Texas, post offices, Kennedy was able to gain access to the safes and steal money and U.S. money orders.  His accomplice, Angela Moore, 37, of Longview, accompanied Kennedy during the Price burglary and the Newton attempted burglary.  Later, on Dec. 27, 2019, Kennedy attempted to use a debit card that he stole during the Evans burglary at the Margaritaville Casino in Shreveport, Louisiana. 

Kennedy and Moore were indicted by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas on June 18, 2020.  Kennedy was also indicted by a federal grand jury in the Western District of Louisiana on June 17, 2020.

Moore pleaded guilty to possession of stolen mail and was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison on May 13, 2021.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with the assistance of the Louisiana State Police, the Rusk County Sheriff's Office, the Sabine County Sheriff's Office, the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office, and the Henderson Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld for the Eastern District of Texas and Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Nickel for the Western District of Louisiana.

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SHREVEPORT, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Javerea Cockerm, 29, of Shreveport, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to 58 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

On September 7, 2019, the Shreveport Police Department received a complaint regarding a drive-by shooting. When officers arrived at the shooting scene, they learned that a male had gotten out of the passenger side of a car and opened fire on another vehicle. The victims in the vehicle were able to evade the shooting and drove off from the scene. Police officers were able to determine the descriptions of the shooter, the occupants of the vehicle, and what vehicle they were driving. Moments later, officers stopped a vehicle in a nearby neighborhood matching the description they received and were able to identify Cockerm as the shooter. Cockerm was sitting in the front passenger seat when officers stopped the vehicle and his physical build and clothing matched the descriptions provided. Officers discovered two firearms in the glove compartment in front of the passenger seat and an opened box of ammunition underneath the front passenger seat. Cockerm has previous felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute drugs (2014), aggravated flight from an officer (2015), and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2018). Cockerm knew that as a convicted felon he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition.

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

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

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SHREVEPORT, La. - Henry A. Wright, 42, of Shreveport, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to 48 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for distribution of methamphetamine, Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced.

Henry A. Wright was charged in an indictment and pleaded guilty to the charge on April 30, 2021. According to information presented to the court, agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began surveillance of Wright on February 21, 2020 and watched him as he met an individual outside a business in Shreveport where he worked. Agents observed Wright exchange narcotics for cash with the individual. The individual was later stopped by agents and found to have tablets that he purchased from Wright in his possession. The tablets were tested by the crime lab and confirmed to be 316.7 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.

The DEA conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown prosecuted the case.

This case is part of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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LAFAYETTE, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that two individuals from Broussard, Louisiana, and a firearms business in Lafayette, Louisiana, have each been indicted for conspiring to deal firearms without a license, making false statements in records required to be kept by a licensed firearms dealer, and failing to file sales reports in connection with their firearms business located in Lafayette.

Jeremiah Micah Deare, 37, Sarah Elaine Fogle, 30, and Dave’s Gunshop, LLC, a business owned by Deare, have been charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, two counts of making false statements with respect to records of a licensed firearms dealer, and four counts of failure to file multiple sales reports. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of 619 firearms which were involved in the commission of these offenses.

Deare was the owner of Dave’s Gunshop, LLC (Dave’s) and the responsible party for Dave’s Federal Firearms License. Deare and Fogle did not hold a Federal Firearms License in their individual capacities. The indictment alleges that on or about August 13, 2019, a compliance inspection was conducted at Dave’s by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Dave’s, through Deare, was warned for numerous violations, including failing to complete an ATF-4473 (1 time), failing to accurately keep acquisition and disposition records for dispositions (67 times), failing to accurately keep acquisition and disposition records for acquisitions (62 times), transferring firearms without having a final response from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (2 times), inaccurate completion of ATF-4473 forms (111 times), and for missing firearms. The indictment alleges that, on that same day, the ATF investigator provided an Acknowledgement of Federal Firearms Regulations to inform Dave’s and Deare of their responsibilities as a Federal Firearms License holder. The acknowledgment was signed by Deare acknowledging that he understood he was responsible for familiarizing himself with the laws and regulations governing the operation of Dave’s.

The indictment further alleges that on September 19, 2019, Deare and Fogle attended an in-person warning conference at the ATF office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, wherein the violations were discussed. Deare was provided the opportunity to comment on the violations and articulate the corrective actions that would be taken to ensure that future violations would not occur.

The indictment also alleges that Deare and Fogle willfully engaged in the business of dealing in firearms without a license by buying and selling firearms without complying with the recordkeeping and background check requirements required by federal law. Deare and Fogle acquired large quantities of firearms and ammunition from estate sales and other means but would not document the firearms in Dave’s Acquisition & Disposition Book as required by federal law. In addition, firearms brought to Dave’s to be sold on consignment were not logged into Dave’s Acquisition & Disposition Book and were not placed for sale at Dave’s.

It is also alleged that Deare and Fogle kept firearms at their residence without logging them out of Dave’s store inventory and would travel with the firearms to gun shows conducted at various locations in Louisiana and in other states. Deare and Fogle sold firearms at gun shows to non-Louisiana residents for which no ATF-4473 or background checks were ever completed. Their failure to conduct background checks resulted in the sales of firearms to prohibited persons, including convicted felons. Additionally, the sales of firearms at gun shows outside the State of Louisiana were not done through a dealer licensed in the state where the gun show was conducted as required by law. The proceeds from the out-of-state gun sales of firearms were not included as revenue for Dave’s, but instead Deare and Fogle used it for their own personal gain.

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

The ATF is conducting the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo is prosecuting the case.

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SHREVEPORT, La. – Thomas Shane Benefield, 46, of Bossier City, Louisiana, and Antravion D. Johnson, 24, of Shreveport, Louisiana, have each been sentenced in unrelated cases by Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr., announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.

Thomas Shane Benefield was sentenced to 168 months (14 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Benefield, along with five other individuals, was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2020 and charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He pleaded guilty to the charge on May 5, 2021 and admitted to the court that he committed the offense. In early 2020, law enforcement agents began an investigation into the drug trafficking activities of Benefield and his co-conspirators. Agents learned that they were traveling to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area to purchase large quantities of methamphetamine and bringing it back to sell in the Shreveport/Bossier City area. On June 12, 2020, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop on Benefield and he gave consent to search the truck he was driving. Deputies found two firearms, along with 30.2 grams of methamphetamine and a scale in the truck.   Benefield admitted to helping his co-conspirators distribute methamphetamine and that he collected money from many different buyers in the local area for the narcotics they purchased. In addition, Benefield purchased some of the methamphetamine so he could personally sell it and make money for himself. Benefield has previous felony convictions for manufacturing methamphetamine (2002) and possession with intent to distribute Schedule I (2009).

The FBI, ATF, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. 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.

Antravion D. Johnson, who has a lengthy criminal history, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Johnson was charged by a federal grand jury for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and he pleaded guilty to the charge on May 5, 2021. The charge stems from an incident which occurred on February 12, 2021 when Shreveport Police Department officers executed a search warrant at an apartment on Peach Street in Shreveport. Johnson was inside the apartment when the warrant was executed. Officers found a loaded Glock pistol inside the residence and just outside of the apartment, officers found a loaded Micro Draco pistol inside a vehicle. Johnson admitted that he possessed the firearms knowing that as a convicted felon, he was prohibited from doing so. Johnson was previously convicted of aggravated assault with a firearm (2016), felony theft (2015), and felon in possession of a firearm (2017).

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moody prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

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LAFAYETTE, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that two men from south Louisiana were sentenced today by United States District Judge Michael J. Juneau for illegal possession of firearms.

Eric Etienne, 33, of New Iberia, Louisiana, was sentenced to 65 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegal possession of a firearm. In May 2021, Etienne went to trial on the charge and was found guilty by a federal jury in Lafayette. Evidence at the trial revealed that on December 18, 2018, officers with the New Iberia Police Department discovered a video on Instagram showing Etienne possessing what appeared to be an AR-15 rifle, two AK-47’s, and a Glock handgun. Law enforcement officers were familiar with Etienne, who is a convicted felon, and were able to determine the location in New Iberia where the video had been taken. Later that day, officers responded to the scene where the video was taken.  Upon arrival, Etienne was found standing near a silver sedan which was seen in the video and wearing the same clothes he was wearing in the video.  Officers found the AR-15 and Glock handgun in plain view in the sedan.  A search of a nearby residence recovered one of the AK-47’s.  Etienne’s prior felony conviction was for attempted manslaughter in 2006.

The ATF and New Iberia Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Ayo and Danny Siefker prosecuted the case.

Patrick Joiner, 54, of Erath, Louisiana, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. On October 18, 2018, a state search warrant was executed at Joiner’s residence by Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies. During the search, law enforcement officers seized methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, cash, and a loaded firearm. Joiner was charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. As an individual having been previously convicted of felony crimes, Joiner was prohibited from possessing a firearm. His criminal history is lengthy, having been convicted of 6 felony crimes dating back to 1989.

The ATF and Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Nickel prosecuted the case.

These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

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LAFAYETTE, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Brandal Moore, 27, of Crowley, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays to 240 months (20 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for being involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment in October 2019 charging Moore and others with being involved in the drug trafficking conspiracy in the Crowley, Louisiana area. Moore pleaded guilty to the charge on May 27, 2021. During their investigation of Moore and his co-conspirators, law enforcement agents learned of Moore’s drug trafficking activities. Their investigation revealed that between April and September 2019, Moore and his co-conspirators used a house in Rayne, Louisiana to store methamphetamine, guns, and cash which they obtained from the distribution of narcotics. Moore sold the methamphetamine that he received from his co-conspirators to other methamphetamine dealers in the Crowley area in quantities ranging from one ounce to multiple ounces per transaction.

A search warrant was obtained by law enforcement agents for the house where the narcotics were being stored by Moore and his co-conspirators. During the search of the house, agents found 5 firearms, approximately 700 grams of methamphetamine, a notebook with drug ledger entries, and other drug paraphernalia. Inside a vehicle located on the property, agents found $15,000 in cash, approximately 350 grams of cocaine, 30 grams of crack cocaine, and approximately 5 kilograms of methamphetamine. Inside another vehicle on the property, agents found approximately 3,555 grams of cocaine located in a hidden compartment. 

The FBI and DEA conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth prosecuted the case.

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SHREVEPORT, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that three defendants have been sentenced by Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to federal prison for their involvement in the trafficking of methamphetamine.

Steven Charles Montgomery, 55, and Tabitha Nicole Stewart, 38, of Steele, Alabama, were both sentenced for their role in conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. Montgomery was sentenced to 292 months (24 years, 4 months) in prison. Stewart was sentenced to 151 months (12 years, 7 months) in prison. Each will serve 5 years of supervised release following their release from prison. Montgomery and Stewart were stopped by a Louisiana State Police Trooper on July 11, 2020 for a traffic violation while driving on Interstate 20 in the Western District of Louisiana. Montgomery was the driver and Stewart the passenger of the vehicle. Troopers questioned both and asked for consent to search their vehicle, which Montgomery refused. A K-9 Trooper arrived and alerted to the odor of narcotics on the exterior of the vehicle. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of a cardboard box containing 31 plastic bags of methamphetamine, all seized from the trunk of the vehicle. The net weight was 13,390 grams of methamphetamine. Stewart admitted to obtaining the narcotics from an individual in California and that they were driving them back to Alabama for distribution.

The DEA, Louisiana State Police, and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown prosecuted the case.

In an unrelated case, Danny Glen Roy Welch, 46, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced to 37 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Welch was charged in an indictment in February 2021 for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Welch pleaded guilty to the charge on April 22, 2021 and admitted to his involvement in the conspiracy. Law enforcement agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began an investigation into the drug trafficking activities of individuals in the Shreveport/Bossier City area in 2018, including Welch. Agents intercepted phone communications between Welch and a co-conspirator discussing the purchase of drugs from Welch, the price for the drugs, and when and where they would meet. Surveillance was established by law enforcement agents and they observed the methamphetamine being purchased from Welch’s co-conspirator who admitted that Welch had supplied him with the narcotics.

This effort is part of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Federal agencies including DEA, Department of Homeland Security, ATF, FBI, U.S. Marshal’s Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, all worked jointly with the Louisiana State Police, Shreveport Police Department, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bossier City Police Department, Desoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, Ruston Police Department and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, in conducting the investigation of Welch and his co-conspirators. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown is prosecuting the federal cases.

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SHREVEPORT, La. – David D. DeBerardinis, 59, of Shreveport, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today before Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to a charge of wire fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. Pursuant to the plea agreement entered in court and signed by DeBerardinis, he has agreed to a court-imposed sentence of 15 years.

DeBerardinis was a Shreveport, Louisiana based executive who operated and managed numerous business entities. He represented himself and his business entities to be part of the petroleum industry involved in a complex fuel trading business. DeBerardinis solicited and caused others to solicit individual investors and financial institutions to provide funds for his businesses in exchange for interest payments and a guaranteed return of principal.

DeBerardinis told investors and financial institutions that he had a preferential trading arrangement with Alon USA Energy, Inc. (Alon) that generated significant profits that would be used to repay the investors and financial institutions when in truth and in fact, DeBerardinis knew that he had no such arrangement with Alon. Between April 2014 and June 2015, PlainsCapital Bank, a financial institution in Dallas, Texas, provided funding to DeBerardinis in the amount of $29,500,000 allegedly to expand his fuel trading business. At the time the funding was obtained, DeBerardinis knew that he was not making fuel trades and that he did not have a relationship with Alon.

The funding from PlainsCapital was made by several interstate wire transfers from PlainsCapital Bank in Dallas to one of DeBerardinis’ bank accounts in Shreveport. The defendant either initiated or caused to be initiated these wire transfers. One of the wire transfers occurred on or about November 25, 2014 in the amount of $17,100,000.

“Over the course of several years David DeBerardinis created an incredibly complex fraud scheme to give the impression that he was a successful fuel trader. He destroyed the lives of many people by stealing their savings to finance his extravagant lifestyle,” stated Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “Mr. DeBerardinis used the friendships that he had with others to lure them into his scheme and many of them suffered greatly because of his deception and unlawful actions. We will not stop fighting to seek justice for the victims that he has left in the wake of his greed and careless actions.”

“Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message that individuals like Mr. DeBerardinis who engage in financial fraud will not go undetected and will be 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, Western District of Louisiana, and the United States Secret Service for their strong partnership and unrelenting pursuit of justice.”

Sentencing has been set for January 4, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Secret Service and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica D. Cassidy and Cadesby B. Cooper are prosecuting the case.

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ALEXANDRIA, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Billy Ray Jones, Jr., 39, of Pineville, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell to 57 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

Jones pleaded guilty on May 18, 2021 to one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. The charges stem from an incident in November 2019 when law enforcement officers from the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and Lecompte Police Department began investigating a burglary at a Burger King in the Lecompte area. Information obtained by law enforcement led them to suspect that Jones, who was the boyfriend of the restaurant manager, committed the burglary. Officers obtained a search warrant for the residence where Jones was living. Upon execution of the warrant, officers found the burglar’s attire and mask in a bag in the master bedroom closet, along with a wallet with identification belonging to Jones. Also in the closet were six firearms and two homemade silencers.

While searching the residence, an adult and juvenile approached from the nearby woods wearing camouflage hunting attire and both had rifles with scopes. Not knowing the adult male was Jones, officers directed them away from the residence. When they learned it was Jones, the female in the residence called them back and he arrived without the rifle that he had been previously carrying. Jones initially denied that the firearms, burglar’s attire and mask in the closet belonged to him, and that he had been carrying the rifle previously. Another search warrant was obtained for the rifle that Jones had been carrying and it was found hidden in a nearby field under tree limbs and pine straw. Jones was interviewed again and admitted to committing the burglary at Burger King and that he had purchased the rifle with money obtained during the burglary, as well as the fact that he had control of the six firearms and silencers in the closet.

Jones has prior convictions for attempted possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2018), illegal possession of stolen things (2018), and simple burglary (2008) and was prohibited from possessing any firearms.

The ATF, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and Lecompte Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

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            SHREVEPORT/ MONROE, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced the resolution of five cases today in United States District Court in the Western District of Louisiana, all of which are listed below.

SENTENCING HEARINGS – SHREVEPORT

United States District Judge Donald E. Walter sentenced the following defendants:

James D. Stephens, III, 39, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Stephens pleaded guilty to the charge on April 1, 2021. The charges in the indictment stemmed from an incident on November 17, 2019, when a Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped Stephens’ car for a routine traffic violation. Inside the vehicle, deputy found more than 500 grams of methamphetamine hidden inside the car.

The DEA, ATF and Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon prosecuted the case.

Marvelous Brown, 33, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced to 60 months and one day in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On August 6, 2019, agents from the Shreveport Police Department narcotics task force encountered Brown in his vehicle near his home and detected an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Brown admitted to agents that he had been smoking marijuana in his vehicle and admitted to having a small amount in his house. Agents searched the house and found approximately 213 grams of marijuana, a digital scale and packaging material, along with two pistols in Brown’s closet.

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.

SENTENCING HEARINGS – MONROE

United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced the following defendants:

Danny Ray Wilson, 31, of Monroe, Louisiana, was sentenced to 72 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On October 13, 2020, deputies with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office stopped the vehicle Wilson was driving to execute an outstanding arrest warrant on him. Law enforcement officers arrested Wilson and found a pistol loaded with 16 rounds of ammunition between the driver’s seat and center console.

Wilson has prior felony convictions for obstruction of justice, illegal possession of a stolen firearm, and illegal use of a dangerous weapon (2009) and simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling (2017 and 2018). As a convicted felon, Wilson is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

The ATF and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy prosecuted the case.

Lee Underwood, Jr., 53, and Ruby Jane McMillian, 35, of Eros, Louisiana, were both sentenced on drug and firearm charges. Underwood was sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison and McMillian was sentenced to 110 months (9 years, 2 months) in prison. Both were sentenced to 5 years of supervised release following their release from prison.

On November 20, 2020, law enforcement agents executed an arrest warrant for Lee Underwood at his home in Eros. Agents observed a firearm and drug paraphernalia in plain view at the residence and obtained a search warrant. During the execution of the search warrant, agents recovered a purse with McMillian’s driver’s license and three bags containing approximately 62 grams of methamphetamine along with the packaging. Agents also recovered two loaded firearms from Underwood’s bedroom, as well as methamphetamine in individually packaged baggies.

The DEA and ATF conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy prosecuted the case.

Jory Terrell Williams, Jr., 30, of Monroe, Louisiana, was sentenced to 209 months (17 years, 5 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of drugs and a firearm.

Williams was charged in October 2020 and pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to information presented in court, law enforcement agents began an investigation into the illegal activities of Williams in January 2020. A search warrant was later obtained and executed at the residence of Williams. During the search, agents recovered 241.325 grams of methamphetamine, several digital scales, a vacuum sealer, and plastic bags. In addition, a loaded Glock pistol and over $9,000 in cash was recovered. Williams admitted to possessing the firearm, knowing that as a convicted felon he was prohibited from doing so.

Williams has prior felony convictions for aggravated battery (2018), aggravated burglary (2010), and simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling (2010).

The DEA and ATF conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan prosecuted the case.

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SHREVEPORT, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Charlie Dion London, 28, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 30 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, on a firearms violation.

London pleaded guilty on March 30, 2021 to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. According to information presented to the court at his guilty plea hearing, Louisiana State Troopers observed a driver in a vehicle on Mansfield Road in Shreveport with an obstructed license plate on May 5, 2020. Troopers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, later determined to be London, refused to stop. A chase ensued and eventually the vehicle was apprehended. During a search of the vehicle, Troopers found a loaded firearm under the driver’s seat with a round in the chamber, along with marijuana and small digital scale.

As an individual having previously been convicted of a felony, London knew he was prohibited from possessing the firearm. His prior felony convictions are for simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling (2012), and attempted possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2019).

The ATF and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

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SHREVEPORT, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Tory Deshawn Jackson, 42, of Shreveport, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to 32 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for his involvement in a scheme to commit credit card fraud. Jackson was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $409,769.56.

Jackson was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2020 for engaging in a scheme with a co-conspirator to fraudulently purchase fuel using Fuelman credit cards stolen from the City of Shreveport. He pleaded guilty on April 7, 2021 to conspiracy to commit credit card fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to information presented in court at the guilty plea hearing, Jackson was employed by the Solid Waste Department in the City of Shreveport Public Works. In September 2017, using his position, Jackson stole three City of Shreveport Fuelman credit cards which he and his co-conspirator would use to unlawfully purchase gasoline and other items at Shreveport area gas stations.

The way the fraudulent scheme was carried out is that Jackson would meet a co-conspirator and others at a local gas station where they would use one of the stolen Fuelman credit cards, along with the Fuelman personal identification number of a Solid Waste Department supervisor, to pump fuel into large containers which could hold up to 500 gallons of fuel. Jackson’s co-conspirator and others would then take the tanks to a third party to sell, and the profit would be split among the co-conspirators. Many times, they would have to run multiple, successive transactions in order to fill up the tanks. From September 3, 2017 through Jackson’s arrest on October 16, 2019, the three credit cards belonging to the City of Shreveport were used to make transactions totaling $409,769.56.

Jawaski Johnson, Jackson’s co-defendant, is scheduled to be sentenced December 7, 2021.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case.

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SHREVEPORT, La. – William Earl Maddox, 73, of Haynesville, Louisiana, the Constable of Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to misbranding an illegal supplement, Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced.

Maddox was charged in a superseding indictment in September 2020 with selling and misbranding illegal supplements online and in stores. At today’s hearing, he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of misbranding of a drug while held for sale after shipment in interstate commerce. In connection with his guilty plea, Maddox agreed to a forfeiture judgment not to exceed $50,000 to the United States and agreed to sell real property in Homer, Louisiana to satisfy that judgment.

According to information presented at the hearing, Maddox formed Middle Marketing, LLC in 2011. Shortly thereafter, he began operating two websites, www.sexassurance[.]com and www.middlemarketing[.]com, wherein he advertised for sale capsules called “Sex Assurance.” Maddox described the capsules on his websites as a “natural male enhancement solution.”

In 2017, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted a package that was shipped from Hong Kong and addressed to Maddox at his residence in Homer, Louisiana. The parcel was inspected and found to contain 2,000 unlabeled blister-packaged green capsules. The parcel was then referred to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA sent two letters to Maddox advising that the parcel had been detained for non-compliance with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and advising him of his right to respond regarding the admissibility of the capsules. Maddox did not respond to either letter, and so the capsules were surrendered.

In January 2018, FDA agents conducted a controlled purchase of two packs of Sex Assurance from Maddox’s website. An online receipt was issued that identified Middle Marketing as the seller and provided the email address and phone number associated with Maddox. A few days later, agents received a package shipped from Haynesville, Louisiana, that contained a business card in the name of “William Maddox” along with the two packs of Sex Assurance that were ordered. Both packs of Sex Assurance were labeled “100% natural herbs.” The Sex Assurance capsules were submitted to the crime lab for analysis and tested positive for sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. The packs did not list sildenafil as an ingredient of the product, nor did it list any identifying information of the manufacturer, packer or distributor.

In March 2019, agents executed a search warrant at Maddox’s residence. Agents found thousands of green blister-pack capsules, Sex Assurance labels, packaged Sex Assurance capsules, a computer, and other items to suggest Maddox packaged the product from his home. Maddox is not a licensed practitioner, nor has he ever registered with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to manufacture and distribute drugs as required by 21 U.S.C. § 360.

“The regulations put in place by the FDA are to be taken seriously. When individuals decide to purchase medications from outside of the United States and sell to unknowing victims, it could result in serious complications,” stated Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “Cases such as these will continue to be brought against those who choose to abuse these regulations.”

"Misbranded prescription drugs that are disguised as dietary supplements and smuggled from overseas can present a serious health risk to those who buy and use them,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin C. Fielder, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. “The drugs often contain undisclosed active pharmaceutical ingredients and are made under unknown conditions. We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who attempt to traffic in misbranded prescription drugs.”

The defendant, William Earl Maddox, faces a sentence of not more than three years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Sentencing has been set for December 10, 2021.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy is prosecuting the case.

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SHREVEPORT, La. - Sirtajro Tourei Heard, 31, of Shreveport, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to 69 months (5 years, 9 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced.

On October 1, 2019, Heard reported to his parole officer and was subsequently arrested and taken to the Caddo Correctional Center (CCC). Once at CCC, Heard made a phone call instructing an unknown individual to go to the residence where Heard was living and pick up a backpack and the thing on top of the kitchen cabinet. The next day, his parole officers went to that residence and obtained permission to search the residence from the owner. Officers located a Nike backpack containing a large quantity of clear baggies, digital scales an envelope filled with marijuana, and two baggies of marijuana. Also found on top of the kitchen cabinet was a pistol with a Glock switch attached and an extended magazine loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition. Heard admitted to possessing the firearm and knowing that as a convicted felon he was prohibited from doing so.

Heard’s prior felony convictions are for simple criminal damage to property (2008); possession of narcotics (2011); possession of marijuana (2012); possession of a narcotics (2016); and possession with intent to distribute narcotics and felon in possession of a firearm (2018).

The ATF and Louisiana State Probation and Parole conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille Gilreath prosecuted the case.

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SHREVEPORT, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Kyion J. Washington, 37, of Shreveport, was sentenced by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to 46 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

According to information presented to the court, Washington was involved with other co-conspirators in trafficking methamphetamine between Waskom, Texas and the Shreveport/Bossier City, Louisiana areas. Law enforcement agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) were able to intercept phone conversations between Washington’s co-conspirators in which they arranged methamphetamine transactions.

On May 10, 2018, Washington traveled with another co-conspirator from Shreveport to Waskom to purchase methamphetamine and the men were later stopped by law enforcement agents for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, agents located and seized methamphetamine from Washington. The suspected methamphetamine was sent to the North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory and the substance was confirmed to be methamphetamine and weighed approximately 40.95 grams.

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

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MONROE, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that two North Louisiana men each have been sentenced to 10 years in prison by United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty for offenses involving drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms.

Derrick King Brooks, 45, of Monroe, Louisiana, was sentenced to spend 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. In February 2020, officers with the Monroe Police Department received a crime stoppers tip that Brooks was supplying cocaine in the Monroe area. Law enforcement agents with the Metro Narcotics Unit began investigating and surveilling the residence where Brooks was staying on Medra Street in Monroe. Through their investigation, agents seized baggies from Brooks’ residence containing chunks of cocaine residue which were sent to the lab for testing and was determined to be cocaine. A search warrant was obtained for the residence and arrest warrant for Brooks. Agents arrested Brooks as he was leaving from the residence and a search of the residence was conducted. In his vehicle, agents found baggies with cocaine, cash and two cell phones. A search of the residence resulted in more bags containing cocaine, other narcotics, a loaded semi-automatic pistol, cash and drug paraphernalia. In total, agents seized over $11,000 in cash, over 2,159 grams of powder cocaine, 29 grams of crack cocaine, and 38 pills.

The ATF and Monroe Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.

Anthony Tywan Newton, 38, of Ruston, Louisiana, was sentenced to spend 124 months (10 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In March 2020, agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) executed a search warrant at a residence on Eastland Avenue in Ruston. Agents seized plastic bags containing 17.5 grams of methamphetamine, 267 dosage units of MDMA, 7 dosage units of Xanax, 27 dosage units of penicillin, and 15 dosage units of Tylenol with codeine, as well as cash. When examining the serial numbers on the U.S. Currency, agents were able to determine that a portion of it was used in earlier controlled buys conducted by law enforcement agents and involving Newton. In addition to the drugs and cash, agents seized a pistol and rifle in Newton’s residence.

The DEA and ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moody prosecuted the case.

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SHREVEPORT, La. – Lee Antonio Dunlap a.k.a Ra El Bey, 40, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to spend 60 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced.

According to information presented to the court at the guilty plea hearing for Dunlap, on or about May 17, 2019, a Shreveport Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop of Dunlap’s vehicle near the intersection of Line Avenue and Olive Street in Shreveport. Dunlap was the driver and only occupant of the vehicle. When the officer approached the vehicle, he observed a firearm in plain view on the passenger seat. The firearm was seized and determined to be loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition.

Dunlap was previously convicted of a felony offense and knew that he was prohibited from possessing the firearm. His previous convictions are for possession with intent to distribute marijuana (2014), possession or introduction of contraband into a penal institution (2011), simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling (2007), and simple arson (2000).

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

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SHREVEPORT, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that two defendants from Shreveport have been sentenced in the Western District of Louisiana.

Carnell L. Briggs, a/k/a “Bankroll” and “Bug,” 23, of Shreveport, was sentenced by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote, to spend 49 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release on firearms charges. Briggs, a local rapper, was arrested on September 15, 2020, only months after serving a federal sentence for possession of a stolen firearm in the Western District of Louisiana. Agents of the U.S. Marshal Service Task Force executed an outstanding arrest warrant for illegal use of a weapon on Briggs at his girlfriend’s apartment. The warrant had been issued as a result of Briggs being implicated in a recent shooting in Shreveport. Agents knocked on the door and Briggs answered, holding a 9mm pistol. He was immediately taken into custody. Briggs admitted to agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) that he purchased the firearm soon after being released from federal prison and knew he was prohibited from having a firearm in his possession.

Dschwadraa D. Wesley, 26, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to spend 120 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Wesley was charged in a federal indictment with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and pleaded guilty to the charge on January 5, 2021. The charge stems from an incident which occurred on February 3, 2020, when Shreveport Police Department officers responded to a domestic call at a residence. Law enforcement officers began to search for and located a vehicle in which Wesley was a passenger. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop and a chase ensued. During the lengthy pursuit, officers observed Wesley throw something out of the window into a ditch. Other officers stopped and searched the ditch and recovered a 9mm pistol which had been reported stolen in November 2019. When the vehicle finally came to a stop, Wesley was arrested and taken into custody. He admitted to possessing the firearm and knew that it was illegal for him to do so as a person convicted of a felony offense. Wesley’s prior convictions are for possession with intent to distribute narcotics (2013) and attempted possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2015).

The ATF, U.S. Marshal Service Task Force, and Shreveport Police Department conducted these investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon B. Brown and Tennille Gilreath prosecuted the cases.

These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

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SHREVEPORT, La. – Three men charged with drug trafficking and firearms charges in three separate cases have been sentenced to time in federal prison, Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced.

Henry Cota, Jr., 38, of Ontario, California, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to spend 135 months (11 years, 3 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Cota was charged in a superseding indictment in January 2020 and pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on March 17, 2021. The charges stemmed from an investigation into shipments of methamphetamine that were sent in March, April and July 2019 to individuals in the Shreveport area. During an investigation into these shipments, agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service learned that Cota, along with another co-defendant, were shipping the packages containing methamphetamine from post offices in the California area to Shreveport for distribution.

The DEA and United States Postal Inspection Service conducted this investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.

Percy Charles Johnson, 36, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to spend 33 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On February 20, 2020, officers with the Shreveport Police Department responded to a welfare check at an apartment complex in Shreveport. Officers found Johnson sleeping on a hallway floor and he had a loaded pistol in his pocket. Johnson is a convicted felon and knew that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. His prior felony conviction was for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in Caddo Parish in 2009.

In another case involving a convicted felon illegally possessing a firearm, United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote sentenced Steven Randell Johnson, 29, also of Shreveport, to spend 20 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. On May 3, 2020, while patrolling the Line Avenue area, an officer with the Shreveport Police Department heard gunfire nearby and went to investigate. The officer observed a vehicle being driven down the street with the driver’s side front door open. Another responding officer saw an adult male jump from the vehicle and run into a nearby residence. Law enforcement officers stopped the vehicle and ordered the driver, determined to be Johnson, to exit the vehicle and he complied. The officer observed a semi-automatic pistol on the front passenger floorboard and Johnson admitted to officers that the pistol, which was loaded with 19 live rounds and one in the chamber, belonged to him. He has prior felony convictions for second degree cruelty to a juvenile (2015) and simple burglary (2012), and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted both investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth D. Reeg and Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the cases.

These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

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SHREVEPORT, La. – Angelena Adams, 52, of Princeton, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to spend 27 months in prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release and restitution to be paid in the amount of $188,328, for defrauding the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced.

Angelena Adams, a.k.a Angelena Morris, was indicted by a federal grand jury on tax fraud charges in May 2020.  She pleaded guilty on March 15, 2021 to making and subscribing to a false return. Adams worked in the tax return preparation business from 2008 through 2015. Beginning in 2012 and continuing through 2015, Adams opened and operated Angie’s Tax Service, a tax return preparation business in Ringgold, Louisiana.

Angie’s Tax Service prepared and submitted client tax returns electronically to the IRS. The business income from Angie’s Tax Service was deposited into Adams’ personal bank account. Adams did not report the income from the business on her Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return for tax years 2013, 2014 and 2015 which, as a result, greatly reduced her adjusted gross income for those tax years. On or about October 15, 2014, Adams completed and filed a false tax return for tax year 2013 stating that her adjusted gross income in 2013 was $166,011, when in truth and in fact, her adjusted gross income was substantially more than that, with gross receipts totaling $702,855 during 2013 for tax return preparation.

The IRS – Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy prosecuted the case.

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LAFAYETTE, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Scott Grigsby, 41, of Abbeville, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays to 102 months (8 years, 6 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Grigsby with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and he pleaded guilty to the charge on April 9, 2021. According to information presented in court, on January 28, 2020, deputies with the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force were conducting surveillance of a residence in Kaplan, Louisiana and observed a vehicle being driven by Grigsby arrive at the residence. Law enforcement officers approached the vehicle and Grigsby attempted to flee the area driving at a high rate of speed in reverse. His vehicle struck a marked police unit and lost control and came to rest in a ditch. Officers arrested Grigsby and his passenger. Grigsby admitted to police that he had thrown a firearm out of the window of the car while attempting to flee. After a brief search of the area, officers located the 9mm pistol near the vehicle in the ditch.

As a convicted felon, Grigsby is prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition. His prior felony convictions were for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (2017); identity theft, simple burglary, and aggravated flight from an officer (2010); and simple robbery (2003).

The ATF and Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon prosecuted the case.

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MONROE, La. – Patrick Senclair Jackson, 46, of Tallulah, Louisiana, was sentenced by United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for drug trafficking.

Jackson was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2020 and pleaded guilty on March 3, 2021 to distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The drug trafficking charges are the result of an investigation into the illegal activities of Jackson.

Law enforcement agents were familiar with Jackson’s involvement in drug trafficking as they had previously purchased methamphetamine from him in June 2019 during an undercover operation. The methamphetamine that was purchased from Jackson during the undercover operation was later sent to the crime lab and confirmed to be 8.87 grams of methamphetamine.

In November 2019, law enforcement agents initiated a traffic stop of Jackson to execute an outstanding arrest warrant on him. During the traffic stop, agents observed a revolver in the driver’s side door of the vehicle he was driving. Law enforcement agents obtained a search warrant and found 9.17 net grams of powder cocaine, 1.95 grams of crack cocaine and less than one gram of methamphetamine, and other drug paraphernalia.

The DEA, ATF, and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown prosecuted the case.

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LAFAYETTE, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a federal grand jury has returned 11 separate indictments charging 11 individuals with fraudulently applying for and receiving disaster benefits from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is a department of the United States Department of Homeland Security.

In August 2016, severe flooding impacted south Louisiana and a Presidential disaster declaration was issued on August 14, 2016 under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The incident period covered August 11, 2016 through August 31, 2016. FEMA was authorized to provide transportation assistance for repair or replacement of a primary vehicle damaged by the disaster.

The indictments allege that on certain dates between September 26, 2016 and November 11, 2016 each of the defendants, acting in concert with others, made false statements and representations to FEMA in an application for transportation benefits and provided certain documentation required by FEMA to process the claim in connection with the Presidential Disaster Declaration for the Louisiana Severe Storms and Flooding. Each application for Disaster Assistance was submitted on behalf of each defendant claiming their vehicle sustained flood damage in Iberia and Lafayette Parishes in Louisiana, when each of them was a resident of St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, which was not included as a designated parish for assistance.

The indictments further allege that each defendant submitted a signed letter to FEMA stating the subject vehicle belonged to the defendant, was their only means of transportation, and was no longer operable. In each case, the repair estimates submitted by each defendant, which ranged from $6,215 to $9,042, were all from repair shops that did not exist. A list of the defendants and the charges they face are as follows:

Defendant Name

Charges

Dwayne Clark, 49,

Franklin, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $6,000 to defendant

Roshawn Lewis, 31,

New Iberia, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $6,000 to defendant

Michelle Annette Kirt, 52,

Franklin, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $6,000 to defendant

Darius Juandre Stansbury, 30,

Franklin, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $5,999 to defendant

Keshawn Alonzo Gray, 24,

Berwick, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $5,999 to defendant

Kieshondra Monique Lovely, 41,

Lake Charles, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $6,000 to defendant

Juanita Dugas, 58,

Franklin, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $6,000 to defendant

Nicole Gibson, 51,

Garden City, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $5,999 to defendant

Gail Nelson, 65,

Franklin, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $5,999 to defendant

Michell Antoinette Fernandez, 40,

Franklin, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $5,999 to defendant

Eric Joseph Daniels, 37,

Franklin, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $5,999 to defendant

Nine individuals were previously indicted in related cases on April 22, 2021. Those individuals and their charges were as follows:

Defendant Name

Charges

Brittany Nicole Hawkins, 29,

Franklin, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $5,999 to defendant

Shannan Latreice Johnson, 45,

Franklin, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $5,999 to defendant

Tasha Jesse Louis, 39,

Franklin, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $6,000 to defendant

Jarnell Wayne Payne, a/k/a Jernell W. Payne, 43,

Franklin, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $5,999 to defendant

Kevin Callery, 54,

Baldwin, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $5,999 to defendant

Leo Green, Jr., 55,

Franklin, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $6,000 to defendant

Robert Joseph Johnson, Jr., 33,

Patterson, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $6,000 to defendant

Derrick Shawn Kirt, 44,

Franklin, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $5,999 to defendant

Johnathan D. Wilson, 38,

Franklin, Louisiana

• Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits – one count
• Theft of Government Money or Property – one count
• Fraudulent repair estimate resulted in disbursement of $6,000 to defendant

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

If you have any information to report concerning potential FEMA fraud, please call the National Center for Disaster Fraud at 1-866-720-5721.

This investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo is prosecuting the cases.

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MONROE, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Eugene Thurman, 46, of Monroe, Louisiana, was sentenced by United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Thurman with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Thurman pleaded guilty on March 10, 2021. According to information presented in court, detectives with the Monroe Police Department received an anonymous tip that Thurman, a convicted felon, was possessing an assault rifle inside his Monroe apartment. Police officers went to Thurman’s residence to investigate and eventually discovered a loaded assault rifle inside his bedroom.

Thurman was previously convicted in the U.S. District Court in Monroe in 2002 for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. In addition, he has a state felony conviction for cocaine possession in 2003.

The ATF and Monroe Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

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SHREVEPORT, La. – Dequita Hopkins-Ashley, 40, of Shreveport, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Donald E. Walter to spend 18 months in prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release, for tax fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. Hopkins-Ashley was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $129,000.

Hopkins-Ashley was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2020 and charged with numerous counts of aiding and assisting in making and subscribing a false return and three counts of false statement on an income tax return. On March 26, 2021, Hopkins-Ashley entered a plea of guilty to the charge of aiding and assisting in making and subscribing a false return. According to information presented in court, Hopkins-Ashley owned and operated a tax preparation service called “Elite Tax Service” in Shreveport and was employed as a tax preparer.

In February 2017, Hopkins-Ashley met with an undercover agent posing as a client of Elite Tax Service. Hopkins-Ashley prepared and filed a Form 1040 for the undercover agent and claimed a false business loss on Form Schedule C in the amount of $6,100. The undercover agent did not provide this information to her, and in truth and in fact, no such business existed. As a result of the misrepresentation on the Form Schedule C, the falsified tax return showed a refund to which the individual was not entitled and was a misrepresentation that Hopkins-Ashley knew to be untrue.

The IRS - Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian C. Flanagan and Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case.

# # #

SHREVEPORT, La. – Two Shreveport men were sentenced today by United States District Judge Donald E. Walter in separate cases which are a result of continued efforts by federal and local law enforcement agencies to curb gun violence in the area as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced.

LaBroderick B. Gandy, 29, was charged in an indictment with one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and pled guilty to the charge on March 23, 2021. Gandy was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Evidence presented in court revealed that on May 20, 2020, Gandy possessed a firearm which he was prohibited from doing. Officers with the Shreveport Police Department responded to a call from a concerned citizen about shots being fired at an apartment complex on Pines Road in Shreveport. While in route to the location, officers received a call from another concerned citizen that a man wearing a red shirt was seen walking on Pines Road and it appeared he was reaching in his belt line to retrieve a possible weapon.

Officers traveled down Pines Road and located a suspect wearing a red shirt, later determined to be Gandy. Before making contact with Gandy, officers observed him throw an object into a wooded area. Gandy was taken into custody and officers searched the wooded area and located a firearm. Gandy has prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance (2017), aggravated assault with a firearm (2015), and simple assault (2014) and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. 

Michael S. Collins, Jr., 22, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. Collins pleaded guilty to the charge on March 26, 2021.

According to information presented to the court, Shreveport Police Department officers received a call regarding suspicious activity in the area of Lynbrook Drive in Shreveport. The call reported that a black male approached a mail carrier while having a firearm visible in his vehicle wanting a package that did not have his name on it. The package was being shipped to a vacant residence. The postal worker told him the house was vacant and the package would be at the main post office. When police officers arrived at the main post office, they observed Collins getting into a car and leaving. A traffic stop was conducted, and Collins was found to be sitting on a loaded .40 caliber pistol and had an AR-15 with a drum magazine loaded with 56 rounds behind the driver’s seat. Officers also found Collins to have over $2,300 in cash and a package containing approximately three pounds of marijuana edibles and a scale. In addition, the package Collins picked up from the post office was found and it contained over four pounds of vacuum-sealed marijuana inside.

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tennille Gilreath and J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the cases.

These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

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LAFAYETTE, La. – Clifton Lamar Dodd, 49, a federal inmate, has been found guilty by a jury in Lafayette of mailing a number of hoax letters to United States Senate post office boxes, Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. presided over the four-day trial.

According to evidence presented at trial, on May 2, 2016, personnel at the United States Senate mail facility received four suspicious mailed envelopes, each containing a white powdery substance. Each envelope bore a return address of FCI Oakdale and each listed a different inmate as the purported sender. The United States Capitol Police’s Hazardous Response Unit responded and confirmed that the white powder was merely talcum powder. In addition to the talcum powder, each letter contained a note scrawled in all caps on a small scrap of paper that stated, “MY BOSS MADE ME DO THIS.” On the back of each note was the name of four different inmates, all of which were housed at FCI Oakdale.

U.S. Capitol Police and agents from the FBI and Bureau of Prisons began an investigation into the origin of the letters. Agents interviewed the inmates whose names were listed as senders of the letters and learned that Dodd had sent one of the inmates threatening notes and bragged about getting the inmate removed from the prison yard. FBI submitted the hoax letters to its crime lab for forensic evaluation and found one of Dodd’s fingerprints on the outside of one of the envelopes.

Dodd faces a penalty of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Sentencing has been set for October 28, 2021.

The FBI, Bureau of Prisons, and U.S. Capitol Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Forrest Phillips prosecuted the case.

# # #

LAFAYETTE, La. – Tony Fee, 49, and James Carroll, 35, both of Pitkin, Louisiana, have been sentenced by United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. to three (3) years of probation, with mandatory and special conditions, for unlawfully removing and damaging archeological resources at Kisatchie National Forest, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. A special condition imposed by Judge Cain prohibited Fee and Carroll from entering or using the Kisatchie National Forest during their term of probation.  The defendants were also ordered to pay $5,676.56 in restitution to the United States Department of Agriculture Forestry Service. 

Evidence presented in court revealed that from October 2017 through June 2018, Fee and Carroll conducted unauthorized excavation on public land in the Kisatchie National Forest, doing so in an effort to uncover Native American artifacts, such as arrowheads.  On June 1, 2018, Fee and Carroll traveled to their established dig-site, and conducted further excavation and uncovered various Native American artifacts, including arrowheads and some chips of Native American tools or utensils.  The excavation site in question was designated by the United States government as a known Archeological Site, and, at all times, Carroll and Fee lacked the necessary permits to conduct the excavation activities.  The cost of restoration and repair to the site totaled $5,676.56.

The United States Forest Service conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John W. Nickel and T. Forrest Phillips prosecuted the case.

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SHREVEPORT, La. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict today against Dillon James Merritt, 54, of Many, Louisiana, charging him with kidnapping, interstate domestic violence and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced. United States District Judge Donald E. Walter presided over the trial.

Evidence introduced at trial this week revealed that on December 12, 2017, Merritt kidnapped a woman in Natchitoches, Louisiana, and took her across state lines to Texas and held her against her will from December 12, 2017 through December 16, 2017. Testimony at trial showed that Merritt and the woman (victim) briefly dated in the fall of 2017, but after Merritt punched the victim in the stomach following an argument, the victim severed the relationship with Merritt. Following the breakup, he continually called the victim and harassed her.

During the evening hours of December 12, 2017, Merritt found the victim walking back home from visiting with a friend near the Walmart parking lot in Natchitoches and struck her in the head and put her in a truck and left. The victim was bound and gagged and hidden under clothing in the vehicle and for the next several days, was taken by Merritt to various locations in Louisiana and remote locations in Texas near Toledo Bend. Merritt repeatedly raped the victim, doused her with lighter fluid and tried to set her on fire, and severely beat her with his fists, elbows, feet and with a Maglite flashlight over this four-day period causing serious bodily injury to the victim. In addition to the brutal beatings, aggravated sexual assault, and sexual abuse on the victim committed by Merritt, he possessed with the intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.

“The severe brutality and sexual abuse inflicted by this defendant on the victim was pure evil,” stated Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “No one deserves to be treated in this manner and justice has prevailed today.”

Merritt faces up to life in prison for the kidnapping charge, life for the interstate domestic violence charges, a maximum of 40 years for the drug charge, and up to a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for November 11, 2021 at 11:00.

The FBI and Sabine County Sheriff’s Office in Hemphill, Texas conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cadesby B. Cooper prosecuted the case.

# # #

SHREVEPORT, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Donald Messick, 50, of Coushatta, Louisiana, appeared before Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. today and pleaded guilty to fraud. A Bill of Information was filed April 23, 2021 in United States District Court charging Messick with one count of wire fraud.

The charge stems from a scheme devised by Messick to defraud the Fairview Union Water System (FUWS), an entity responsible for the management and upkeep of a rural water system in Red River Parish, Louisiana. During the scheme, Messick used FUWS monies to purchase items for his own personal use, including fuel, vehicle parts, tools, and other equipment. In some cases, he would use FUWS funds to purchase items that he would then give to relatives. In another instance, Messick had an electronic funds transfer sent from FUWS’s bank account to another individual located in Florida for her own personal use and did so without authorization from FUWS. Messick also fraudulently enrolled a relative in the group health insurance of FUWS, when that individual was not an employee and not authorized to be on the insurance plan. As a result, FUWS paid the premiums for this individual and the insurer paid out $19,705 in claims made on behalf of the unauthorized individual.   

In total, from February 1, 2018 to March 1, 2019, Messick defrauded the FUWS out of approximately $58,459.73 in monies and property.

Messick faces a penalty of not more than 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Sentencing has been set for November 18, 2021.

The FBI and USDA-OIG conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg is prosecuting the case.

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SHREVEPORT, La. - Darren Watts, 26, of Shreveport, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 94 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for his role in an armed robbery that took place in Shreveport in November 2018, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.

On July 7, 2020, Watts pleaded guilty to robbery and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. According to evidence presented in court, Watts, along with Brandon Brown, Rekory Johnson and Courtney Daniels, formulated a plan to rob the Top Dollar Pawn Shop that was located on St. Vincent Avenue in Shreveport. Watts and Johnson entered the store wearing black hoodies, gloves, and clown masks covering their faces carrying handguns. They ordered the store clerks to the floor, opened the cash register and took cash out.

One of the clerks was then forced at gunpoint to open the counter where they also stole 18 pistols, a revolver, and a shotgun, as well as jewelry and over $2,000 in cash.  Watts and his co-defendants fled the scene and later split up the stolen items. Several days after the robbery, Watts went around to other pawn shops in the Shreveport area where he pawned the stolen items.

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.

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LAFAYETTE, La. – Deshawndo Dewight Williams, Jr., 27, of Texas City, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. to 46 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.

Evidence presented in court revealed that on April 5, 2020, officers with the Lake Charles Police Department were dispatched to an apartment complex in connection with an ongoing domestic dispute involving a male, later identified as Williams, threatening a female with a rifle. Upon arrival, law enforcement officers located Williams and placed him into custody and located and seized the rifle. Their investigation revealed that Williams, who had prior felony convictions and was prohibited from possessing a firearm, did in fact illegally possess the rifle.

Williams was previously convicted of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling (2015); and simple robbery (2016).

The ATF and Lake Charles Police Department conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen prosecuted the case.

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MONROE, La. – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Charlie L. Simpson, 48, of Downsville, who worked as Chief Operating Officer of United Home Care, Inc. (“United”) and Trinity Home Health Care, Inc. (“Trinity”), and Charles R. Gardner, 53, of West Monroe, who worked as Chief Financial Officer/Controller of United and Trinity. Simpson and Gardner were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and four counts of bank fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.

The indictment alleges that from April 2016 until March 2017, Simpson and Gardner were involved in a scheme to defraud Origin Bank, Peoples Bank, and Louisiana National Bank (“LNB”) by fraudulently obtaining money and credits from the three banks. It is alleged that Simpson and Gardner orchestrated and executed a check kite between accounts at Origin Bank and LNB wherein they deposited hundreds of checks between multiple accounts they controlled at both banks and took advantage of the float when they passed the checks, timing the exchanges to artificially inflate the account balances. In so doing, Simpson and Gardner caused Origin Bank and LNB to honor checks and payments drawn against accounts with insufficient funds and put the financial institutions at risk.

The indictment further alleges that on March 8, 2017, Simpson learned that accounts under his control at LNB had an overdraft and the bank would only accept a certified check to cover the deficit. To cover the overdraft and prevent the kite from collapsing, Simpson and Gardner allegedly added a third bank, Peoples Bank, into the scheme by issuing over 20 checks for approximately $4 million drawn from different accounts at that bank and deposited them into multiple accounts at Origin Bank. However, the accounts used at Peoples Bank did not have sufficient funds to cover the checks deposited into Origin Bank. In fact, the accounts at Peoples Bank had less than $2,000 available. The following day, March 9, 2017, the defendants used the artificially inflated balances to obtain four certified checks totaling $2.1 million from Origin Bank and deposited them into different accounts at LNB to cover the overdraft.  Origin Bank suffered a financial loss when it discovered that Simpson and Gardner had used the inflated accounts to obtain certified funds.

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

The FBI is conducting this investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon H. Whitten is prosecuting the case.

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LAKE CHARLES, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Houston, Texas-based CITGO Petroleum Corporation has agreed to pay $19.69 million to resolve federal and state claims for natural resource damages under the Oil Pollution Act and the Louisiana Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act. 

The United States and Louisiana concurrently filed a civil complaint along with the proposed consent decree. The complaint seeks money damages under the Oil Pollution Act and Louisiana Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act for injuries to natural resources resulting from CITGO’s major oil discharge into the Calcasieu River in June of 2006 from its wastewater treatment facility at its Lake Charles refinery. The complaint alleges that CITGO discharged millions of gallons of waste (slop) oil and oily wastewater from two ten-million-gallon storm surge and wastewater tanks at its treatment facility at the Lake Charles refinery. Approximately 150 miles of shoreline were polluted with CITGO’s oil, including residential and marsh areas. The discharged oil killed birds and fish and other aquatic life, contaminated aquatic and shoreline habitats, forced the closure of the ship channel, and disrupted recreational uses of the impacted river and lakes.

"While oil and gas producers are a major source of employment in Louisiana, they have a sacred obligation to protect our environment and use our resources wisely,” stated Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “This settlement sends a clear signal that those who pollute our environment will be held accountable.”

“Oil companies have a responsibility to protect our waters, people, wildlife, and diverse habitats from oil spills, and those who violate that duty will be held accountable for the harms they cause,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jean E. Williams for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We are glad to work with our federal and state natural resource partners on this major effort to help restore and enhance the environment in Louisiana.”

Of the $19,688,149.83 CITGO is required to pay under the consent decree, $19.16 million is for natural resource damages for the spill, which the federal and state trustees will jointly use to plan, design, and perform restoration projects to compensate for the harms caused by the oil spill. The consent decree also secures payment from CITGO for the trustees’ remaining unpaid injury assessment costs, which total over $528,000.

Today’s action was filed by the Department of Justice and the state on behalf of the federal and state trustees for natural resources. The designated federal trustees for the natural resources impacted by CITGO’s oil spill are the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service. The designated state trustees are the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office, Department of Public Safety & Corrections, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. The federal and state trustees have worked together to perform substantial injury assessment work and are engaged in joint restoration planning efforts.

In an earlier related Clean Water Act enforcement trial spearheaded by the United States on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency, the district court determined that the cause of this avoidable disaster was CITGO’s gross negligence in the operation and maintenance of its wastewater treatment facility and the lack of adequate storage and treatment capacity. CITGO had been improperly using the tanks to accumulate oil, sludge, and oily wastewater at its treatment facility for years. Due to the lack of proper operations and the inadequate storage and treatment capacity at the facility, the tanks overflowed during a rainstorm. At least 54,000 barrels of slop oil (2,268,000 gallons) and untold millions of gallons of oily wastewater breached the faulty secondary containment berm around the tanks and flowed into the waterways, including the adjacent Indian Marais waterway, the Calcasieu River, and the Calcasieu Estuary.

The court found that CITGO “does not appear to have recognized the importance of compliance, pollution control, environmental responsibility, and the overall duty imposed on businesses to operate safely.” The court found that CITGO’s oil spill was “massive, excessive, and a tragedy” and that CITGO “failed to inform the Coast Guard of the true nature of the incident.” CITGO was ordered to perform substantial corrective actions to improve its wastewater treatment facility’s storage and treatment capacity and operations, to pay a state penalty of $3 million to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality for the discharge and chronic violations of the company’s discharge permit, and to pay a federal Clean Water Act civil penalty of $81 million. Under a separate criminal plea agreement, CITGO paid a $13 million criminal fine.  

The proposed consent decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court review and approval.

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SHREVEPORT, La. - John Marston, 38, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.

A federal grand jury indicted Marston on May 20, 2020 and he subsequently pleaded guilty to the charge on September 2, 2020. The charge stems from an incident in January 2020 when law enforcement officers with the Shreveport Street Level Interdiction Unit obtained a search warrant for a residence on Clay Street where Marston was residing and where they suspected ongoing illegal narcotics distribution activity. When officers served the search warrant, they found Marston inside the residence, along with illegal narcotics, firearms, and ammunition. Marston has numerous prior felony convictions and was prohibited from possessing any weapons and was charged with illegally possessing a firearm. His prior felony convictions are for: attempted possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2014); possession with intent to distribute cocaine (2014); attempted possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2003); simple burglary (2002); and felony theft (1999).

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

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LAKE CHARLES, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Alfredo Franco, 54, of Sulphur, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge James D. Cain to 1 year and 1 day in prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release, on federal tax fraud charges. Franco was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $961,655.

Franco was charged in a Bill of Information with three counts of making and subscribing a false return, statement or other document. On February 23, 2021, Franco pleaded guilty to one count in the Bill of Information. According to information presented in court at the hearing, Franco was self-employed and owned a business in the Calcasieu Parish area. Franco admitted to submitting and electronically filing false and fraudulent U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns on behalf of his himself and his wife for the tax years 2015, 2016, and 2017.  He purposefully omitted approximately $702,834 in gross receipts for tax year 2015, $1,270,449 in gross receipts for tax year 2016, and $696,763 in gross receipts for tax year 2017, from Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business), where gross receipts are listed. The omission of this income resulted in an additional tax liability of $961,655.

The IRS conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly P. Uebinger prosecuted the case.

# # #

SHREVEPORT, La. – Jose Angel Lopez Valdivierzo, 36, a citizen of Honduras who was living in Bossier City, Louisiana, has been sentenced for illegal re-entry by a removed alien, Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced. United States District Judge Donald E. Walter sentenced Valdivierzo to 15 months in prison.

Valdivierzo was stopped by Bossier City Police officers for a traffic violation on October 26, 2020 and found him to be in possession of a controlled substance. Valdivierzo has been removed from the United States on ten prior occasions, specifically on the following dates: June 11, 2008; August 15, 2008; October 31, 2008; January 29, 2009; March 18, 2011; October 20, 2011; January 13, 2014; April 25, 2014; February 20, 2015; and March 22, 2017.

His prior federal convictions are for improper entry by an alien (2011) and illegal re-entry by a removed alien (2013 and 2016). Valdivierzo also has prior misdemeanor convictions in Texas for theft (2013) and assault causing bodily injury to a family member (2015). 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Bossier City Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy prosecuted the case.

# # #

SHREVEPORT, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that two defendants have been sentenced to federal prison by Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr.

Armed Robbery of Shreveport Store Sends Man to Federal Prison

Rekory Johnson, 26, of Shreveport, has been sentenced for his role in a robbery that took place at the Top Dollar Pawn in Shreveport in November 2018. Johnson pleaded guilty on August 31, 2020 to robbery and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and was sentenced to 117 months (9 years, 9 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.

The robbery occurred on November 21, 2018 when Rekory Johnson and his co-defendants entered the Top Dollar Pawn on St. Vincent Avenue in Shreveport, dressed in black hoodies, gloves, wearing clown masks, and armed with handguns. They ordered the store clerks to the floor, opened the register and took cash out. One of the clerks was then forced at gunpoint to open the counter where they also stole 18 pistols, a revolver, and a shotgun, as well as jewelry.

Johnson was also involved in a robbery that occurred on November 27, 2018, when he and Alexander Baker entered the Petro Gas Station on West Bert Kouns in Shreveport with the intent to rob the store using firearms. The two men entered the store wearing all dark clothing, covered faces and both were armed with semi-automatic handguns, and demanded money from the cashier. They told the cashier to open the vault, but she did not have access to it. Johnson and Baker then ran out the side door and got into a parked vehicle driven by Brandon Brown and drove away.

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.

Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

Nolan Washington a.k.a. “Slim Thug,” 35, of Shreveport, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for drug trafficking. Information introduced in court revealed that between March 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019, Washington conspired with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine. Federal law enforcement agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration intercepted phone calls between Washington and a co-defendant wherein they discussed buying and selling of narcotics. Agents conducted surveillance of Washington and observed the sale of the methamphetamine to an individual. A laboratory analysis determined it to be pure methamphetamine.

Law enforcement agents intercepted additional phone calls wherein Washington discussed providing drugs to a co-defendant and Washington spoke about amounts, prices and transportation of drugs.

The DEA, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Desoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, Shreveport Police Department, Bossier City Police Department, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police and U.S. Marshal’s Service conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille Gilreath.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. 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.

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ALEXANDRIA, La. – Larcentursa Mayweather a.k.a. “Cent” a.k.a “Lacenturia,” 49, of Winnfield, Louisiana, has been convicted on armed bank robbery charges, Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced. United States District Judge Dee D. Drell presided over the four-day trial held in Alexandria.

Mayweather was charged on July 8, 2020 in a federal indictment with conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery, two counts of armed bank robbery, and one count of making a false bomb threat. Evidence introduced at trial showed that Mayweather conspired with two other co-defendants, Paul Nash, Jr. and Tabitha Lee Gray a.k.a. “Tabitha White” to rob two banks in the Western District of Louisiana in April 2019.

Mayweather helped plan the bank robberies and instructed Nash and Gray on how to carry out the robberies and what to do and he acted as the getaway driver. On April 2, 2019, Mayweather drove Nash and Gray to Campti, Louisiana and dropped them off at the City Bank and waited for them while they were inside committing the armed robbery. Nash and Gray left the bank with the stolen money and fled to the car where Mayweather was waiting, and they drove away. Prior to the bank robbery and in an effort to divert the attention of law enforcement officers while the robbery was being committed, Mayweather provided Nash with a cell phone and instructed him to make a false report to law enforcement conveying that there was a bomb threat on the Lakeview High School property in Campti.

The second armed robbery occurred on April 16, 2019 at the Bank of Montgomery in Castor, Louisiana. Again, Mayweather helped plan the robbery and instructed Nash and Gray on how to carry out the robbery. Instead of calling in a false report of a bomb threat, this time they committed an arson and set a house on fire to try and divert the attention of local law enforcement while the robbery was being committed. Nash and Gray entered the bank with firearms drawn and ordered the tellers to stay out of the way so they could take the money. After the money was stolen, Nash and Gray ran out of the bank intending to find Mayweather, who had promised he would be waiting to pick them up. Instead, once they exited the bank, Mayweather saw law enforcement officers in the area and instead of picking them up, he accelerated and left Nash and Gray to fend for themselves. Nash and Gray ran into a nearby wooded area and were later apprehended. Mayweather was seen leaving the area of the Bank of Montgomery and was stopped and arrested by law enforcement officers. Gray's purse and a receipt belonging to Nash were found in his vehicle. 

Testimony at trial revealed that a glove belonging to Mayweather was found in the parking lot and his DNA was on the glove. Further, Nash and Gray each wore gloves during the robberies which were provided by Mayweather from his place of employment at the time.

Nash and Gray each previously pleaded guilty in this case and agreed to testify about their involvement in the robberies. Nash is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Gray is scheduled to be sentenced on August 19, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.

Mayweather faces up to 5 years in prison on the conspiracy count, up to 25 years on the armed bank robbery counts, up to 10 years on the false bomb threat count, and up to a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for August 27, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.

The FBI, Louisiana State Police, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana State Fire Marshal conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tennille Gilreath and Robert F. Moody prosecuted the case.

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SHREVEPORT, La. – Orentha James Pea, 43, of Shreveport, has been convicted by a federal jury on firearms charges, Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote presided over the two-day jury trial.

Pea was charged on September 25, 2019 with one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Evidence introduced at the trial showed the jury that Pea held a gun to his wife’s head in front of their children and threatened to kill her following an argument between the two of them. Pea was previously convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence in 2017 and 2018 related to the domestic abuse battery of his daughter and the violation of his wife’s order of protection. Pea also has felony convictions for aggravated battery in 2005, related to shooting his pregnant wife with a firearm, and aggravated battery in 2014, related to striking his wife with a firearm. Testimony at trial revealed that Pea was commonly known to carry a firearm, despite knowing that he was prohibited from doing so as a convicted felon and a person convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence. After threatening to kill his wife, who is the victim in this case, Pea went to a cousin’s house and returned back home later that evening. He locked himself and the victim in their bedroom, took her cell phone from her, and berated her for most of the night.

The next morning when they awoke, the victim was able to get away from Pea and call the police to report the threat that he made to kill her the day before and that he had a gun in his possession. Officers with the Shreveport Police Department responded to their home and conducted a search and found the loaded firearm hidden in the house. Laboratory analysis conducted by the North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory determined that Pea’s DNA was present on the grip and slide portion of the firearm. Members of the jury deliberated and returned a guilty verdict on both counts of the indictment.

Pea faces up to 20 years in prison for both counts and up to a $250,000 fine.  Sentencing is set for October 21, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cadesby B. Cooper and Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case.

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SHREVEPORT/ LAFAYETTE/ ALEXANDRIA/ LAKE CHARLES/ MONROE, La.– Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook and the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force announced the availability of approximately $154,931 in PSN grant funds for the Western District of Louisiana. The Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, and Bureau of Justice Assistance is seeking applications for funding of a grant under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. At least 30% ($41,831) of the grant funds must be designated for grants under the PSN Program to fund new and/or current gang violence reduction strategies in the Western District. In addition, approximately $97,607 can be designated to fund both new and/or current comprehensive gun crime and gang violence reduction strategies within the Western District.   

PSN furthers the Department of Justice=s mission to reduce violent crime by providing support to state, local and tribal efforts to create safer neighborhoods through a sustained reduction in violent crime and gang violence committed with firearms utilizing prevention, enforcement and intervention methods. 

Various types of single or multi‑grantee grant proposals are welcome including those that address the following: 

• Gang violence and gun violence reduction, deterrence, prevention, community outreach and education; 
• Enforcement, adjudication and supervision programs; 
• Prisoner re-entry programs; or
• Other innovative related projects.

Grant proposals must contain the following: (1) Project Abstract, (2) Project Narrative, and (3) Budget Detail Worksheet and Narrative.  In addition, the Project Narrative should contain the following subparts:  (a) Statement of the Problem, (b) Project Design and Implementation, (c) Gang Task Force Set Aside (if applicable), and (d) Plan for Collecting Data and Determining Performance Measures.  To be eligible, grant proposals must be submitted to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ATTN: PSN Grant Competition, 800 Lafayette Street, Suite 2200, Lafayette, LA 70501, no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 15, 2021.

The FY 2021 PSN Grant Announcement, Grants.gov Opportunity # O-BJA-2021-94005 can be found on the Western District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney’s Office website at: www.justice.gov/usao-wdla. More information about the program can be located at www.psn.gov or www.bja.gov/programs/psn. 

Interested applicants may also contact Assistant U.S. Attorney and PSN Coordinator Jamilla A. Bynog at (337) 262-6618 for additional information.

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LAFAYETTE, La. – A federal jury seated in Lafayette has returned a guilty verdict against Jarvis Pierre, 38, of Houston, Texas, convicting him on firearms charges following a week-long trial before United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr., announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.

Pierre was charged in a Second Superseding Indictment on April 28, 2021 with two counts of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Evidence introduced at the trial revealed that Pierre was stopped by law enforcement officers on October 7, 2018 and December 27, 2018 for traffic violations.

On October 7, 2018, deputies with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a shots fired call outside of the Cloud 9 night club in Lake Charles, Louisiana. When deputies arrived, the crowd began to disburse and many patrons left the parking lot. Deputies observed a vehicle that remained in the parking lot with the driver acting suspiciously. Law enforcement officers followed the vehicle once the driver left the parking lot and observed the vehicle drift from the lane of travel several times and conducted a traffic stop. Pierre was the driver of the vehicle and as deputies approached the vehicle, they detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside. After a search of Pierre’s person, deputies found large amounts of cash, and a brown, powdery substance which was determined to contain heroin and fentanyl. While searching the vehicle further, deputies found a loaded FN57 handgun under the driver’s seat, as well as a loose 5.7mm round of ammunition, a rolled marijuana cigarette, and a baby bottle containing promethazine. Memo books containing writing that was determined to be prices for different amounts of narcotics with names and addresses were also found in the vehicle. The amount of cash found on Pierre’s person and in the vehicle totaled over $11,000.

When Pierre was stopped by Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies for a traffic violation on December 27, 2018, they found him to have a loaded handgun between the driver’s seat and center console of his vehicle, along with marijuana on his person and in the vehicle, and two cellular phones. Deputies determined at that time that Pierre had an active warrant out of Texas stemming from a traffic stop in February 2018 in Pearland, Texas by officers with the Pearland Police Department. During the Pearland, Texas stop, law enforcement officers found a loaded 9mm handgun, over 400 oxycodone pills and $11,629 in cash, as well as 4 cellular telephones.

Pierre has previous felony convictions for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute (2001); distribution of cocaine (2002); and aggravated assault with a firearm (2013). It is illegal for individuals with a prior felony conviction to possess a firearm or ammunition.

The defendant faces no less than 15 years nor more than life in prison on the two convicted felon in possession of a firearm counts of the indictment, a $250,000 fine, or both. He faces a statutory mandatory minimum of not less than 5 years and up to life on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime count in the indictment, to run consecutive to the other counts.

Sentencing has been set for September 23, 2021 at 10:00.

The ATF and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John W. Nickel and J. Luke Walker prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

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ALEXANDRIA, La. – A former correctional officer with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office (RPSO), Detention Center 1, in Alexandria, Louisiana, has been sentenced in federal court for violating the civil rights of three inmates in his custody.

Cody Richardson, 31, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell to 70 months (5 years, 10 months) in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release. Richardson previously pleaded guilty on May 28, 2020 to three felony counts of using excessive force against pretrial detainees housed at the RPSO facility.

According to court documents and statements made during the hearing, Richardson, while on duty as a correctional officer in 2018, tased three different detainees who were restrained and/or not resisting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242. Specifically, on January 28, 2018, Richardson tased detainee K.F. while K.F. had his hands up, causing him to fall to the ground, then continued to tase K.F. three more times despite the fact that he was not resisting. On February 24, 2018, Richardson drive-stunned detainee S.M. 15-20 times while S.M. was shackled to a bench by his ankles, then, after other officers secured S.M.’s wrists in handcuffs, continued tasing him and kicked him once in the abdomen. Finally, on March 19, 2018, Richardson deployed a Taser into detainee J.A.’s back, causing him to fall to the ground, then sat on top of a table in the cellblock and continued to activate the Taser four more times while J.A. thrashed on the floor, screaming in pain. 

“Citizens who are detained by law enforcement officers have a right to be treated with fairness and respect,” said Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “Those in law enforcement who choose to violate the civil rights of those in their custody and control must suffer the consequences of their actions.”

“These kinds of civil rights violations by correctional officers will not be tolerated,” said Pamela S. Karlan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “By perpetrating these blatant and callous assaults on inmates, Richardson abused the authority granted to him as an officer of the law, undermined public trust in law enforcement, and caused harm to individuals whom he had a responsibility to protect. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute officers who violate the civil rights of vulnerable inmates in their care, and ensure that such officers are held accountable.”

This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Mary Mudrick of the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Katherine DeVar of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.

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LAFAYETTE, La. – A federal jury in the Western District of Louisiana has found Eric Etienne, 33, of New Iberia, Louisiana, guilty of illegal possession of firearms, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. The two-day jury trial took place in Lafayette before United States District Judge Michael J. Juneau.

Evidence at the trial revealed that on December 18, 2018, officers with the New Iberia Police Department discovered a video on Instagram showing Etienne possessing what appeared to be an AR-15 rifle, two AK-47’s, and a Glock handgun. Law enforcement officers were familiar with Etienne, who is a convicted felon, and were able to determine the location in New Iberia where the video had been taken. Later that day, officers responded to the scene where the video was taken.  Upon arrival, Etienne was found standing near a silver sedan which was seen in the video and wearing the same clothes he was wearing in the video.  Officers found the AR-15 and Glock handgun in plain view in the sedan.  A search of a nearby residence recovered one of the AK-47’s. 

A federal grand jury returned an indictment on October 3, 2019 charging Etienne with being a convicted felon in possession of firearms, specifically, the AR-15 rifle, AK-47, and Glock handgun. He was previously convicted of attempted manslaughter in 2006 and is prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition.

Etienne faces up to 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for August 13, 2021.

The ATF and New Iberia Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Ayo and Danny Siefker prosecuted the case.

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SHREVEPORT, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that John T. Owings, 60, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to 21 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release, for stealing Social Security benefits. Owings was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $200,434.70.

Owings, who was formerly the Chief of Trauma at the former LSU Health and Sciences Center in Shreveport (LSUHSC), was convicted by a federal jury in February 2019 of 20 counts of theft of government property and 1 count of concealing or failing to disclose an event affecting right to a government benefit. The United States presented evidence during the trial showing that Owings applied for disability benefits in 2008 and continued to receive those benefits through June of 2017, after returning to work in 2012. When Owings went back to work as a surgeon at the University of California-Davis in 2012, making $22,000 a month, he failed to tell the Social Security Administration (SSA) about his return to work. In 2013, LSUHSC hired Owings as its trauma chief, paying him over $40,000 a month.  Owings never disclosed his employment at LSUHSC to the SSA. Instead, Owings took disability insurance benefits throughout his employment at the University of California-Davis and LSUHSC that he was not entitled to. Owings used the benefits to pay for personal expenses and fund his coin collecting hobby.

“Despite being a highly-paid, working trauma surgeon, Dr. Owings took advantage of a program that is designed to benefit those who are in need of assistance due to their inability to work,” Acting U.S. Attorney Van Hook said. “I would like to thank the agents with the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General for doing such an outstanding job on this case and other cases such as this by seeking out those individuals who take advantage of a program designed for the disabled. We will continue to prosecute those who abuse the system in this way.”

The SSA is responsible for the implementation of the Disability Insurance Benefits Program under Title II of the Social Security Act.  The SSA provides monetary benefits to individuals who have worked and paid taxes to SSA.  To be eligible for monthly cash benefits, individuals must have been deemed medically disabled and must have been unable to maintain gainful employment.

Pursuant to SSA regulations, a claimant must prove to SSA that he or she is disabled by furnishing medical and other evidence with the application. The application and supporting evidence would then be evaluated by SSA to determine the individual’s medical impairments and determine the effect of the impairment on the claimant’s ability to work on a sustained basis.  Recipients of Social Security disability insurance benefits are required by federal law to report any changes in their medical or employment status to SSA, including any work activity, whether compensated or not.  Eligibility for Disability Insurance Benefits is conditioned on the recipient’s lack of employment income during the period when the disability benefits are paid.

The Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorneys Seth D. Reeg and Leon H. Whitten prosecuted the case.

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ALEXANDRIA, La. - Derrick Dwayne Thomas, 46, of Alexandria, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell to 63 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, on drug trafficking charges, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.

On May 6, 2020, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Thomas with possession with intent to distribute heroin and distribution of controlled substances. Thomas appeared in United States District Court on January 8, 2021 and pleaded guilty to the charge of possession with intent to distribute heroin. Evidence at the guilty plea hearing revealed that on January 31, 2020, law enforcement officers in Alexandria, Louisiana executed a search warrant for property on Brooks Boulevard in Alexandria where Thomas resided, as well as Thomas’ vehicle.

A search of Thomas’ vehicle revealed five cellular telephones located near the driver’s seat. During the search of the residence, officers found numerous prescription bottles, which were not prescribed to Thomas or any residents of the home, as well as large sums of cash. Officers also found a lockable Tupperware container inside a small ice chest in a closet and inside the container was a plastic bag containing a brown powder, suspected to be heroin. Thomas admitted to purchasing the heroin which was later tested by a laboratory and confirmed to be heroin with an approximate weight of 477.30 grams.

The FBI, Louisiana State Police, and Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Nickel prosecuted the case.

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SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/ALEXANDRIA/LAKE CHARLES/MONROE, La.  – In honor of National Police Week, Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Sunday, May 9 through Saturday, May 15, 2021.

“Police Week is an opportunity for us to honor our law enforcement officers in Louisiana and across the United States,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “The men and women who serve as law enforcement officers are the unsung heroes in our communities today. They work long hours for little pay and put their lives on the line every single day when they put on their uniform to go out into our communities and serve and protect us as citizens from those who choose to reject the rule of law in our nation. We support and honor these officers who continue to work despite the adversity that they face each day. This week please join me in saying ‘thank you’ to these police officers for their sacrifices and in remembering those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.”

“This week is a time to honor our law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. “I am constantly inspired by the extraordinary courage and dedication with which members of law enforcement act each day, putting their lives on the line to make our communities safer. To members of law enforcement and your families: we know that not a single day, nor a single week, is enough to recognize your service and sacrifice. On behalf of the entire Department of Justice, you have our unwavering support and eternal gratitude.”

In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.  

 Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment to keeping our communities safe. This year the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities that they have sworn to serve.

During the Roll Call of Heroes, a ceremony coordinated by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), more than 300 officers will be honored.  Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), of the law enforcement officers who died nationwide in the line of duty in 2020, nearly 60 percent succumbed to COVID-19. Here in the Western District of Louisiana, six officers died in the line of duty. The officers who lost their lives are as follows:

• Donna Michelle Richardson-Below with the Desoto Parish Sheriff’s Office died on February 12, 2020 in an automobile crash while on duty;
• Kejuane Artez Bates with the Vidalia Police Department died on April 1, 2020 from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty;
• Kevin Paul Trahan with the Church Point Police Department died on July 31, 2020 after contracting COVID-19 during a confirmed exposure at the Church Point Police Department building on June 26, 2020;
• Claude Winston Guillory with the Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office died on August 4, 2020 from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in a presumed exposure while on duty;
• Randy Michael Vallot with the Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office died on September 23, 2020 after contracting COVID-19 as the result of a confirmed exposure during an outbreak within the agency; and
• Marshall Lee Waters, Jr. with the Mangham Police Department died on November 5, 2020 as the result of a gunshot wound sustained during a traffic stop near the Franklin/Richland Parish border.

According to statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 46 law enforcement officers died as a result of felonious acts and 47 died in accidents in 2020.  LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website.  

The names of the 394 fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Thursday, May 13, 2021, during a Virtual Candlelight Vigil, which will be livestreamed to the public at 7:00 pm CST. The Police Week in-person public events, originally scheduled for May, have been rescheduled due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns to October 13-17, 2021. An in-person Candlelight Vigil event is scheduled for October 14, 2021.

To learn more about National Police Week, please visit www.policeweek.org.

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