Western District of Louisiana

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that an illegal alien from Honduras was indicted on multiple firearms violations and illegally re-entering the country.

Selvin Ponce-Hernandez, 27, of Honduras, was indicted on one count of illegal re-entry of a removed alien, possession of a firearm by a prohibited felon, and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. According to the indictment, Ponce-Hernandez was arrested on August 9, 2018 in Lafayette Parish. Law enforcement agents found that he was from Honduras and had previously been deported. He was also in possession of a Bersa Thunder .380 Deluxe pistol and ammunition. A review of his criminal record showed that he was also a convicted felon.

Ponce-Hernandez faces up to 10 years in prison for the illegal re-entry count, 10 years in prison for the possession of firearm by a prohibited felon count, and 10 years in prison for the possession of firearm by an illegal alien. He also faces three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and possible deportation.

Homeland Security Investigations, the ATF and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo is prosecuting the case.

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

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Lafayette man was sentenced to 30 months in prison for making threats through interstate communications to the Lafayette office of U.S. Representative Clay Higgins.

Sohail Rana, 50, of Lafayette, Louisiana, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell, who also ordered him to serve two years of supervised release following his prison sentence.  The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that Rana called Higgins’ Lafayette office on July 17, 2017 while in Colorado and spoke to his district director.  Rana was described as being irate, cursing and screaming during the call saying that he would end Higgins’ career and kill Higgins.  The district director noted the phone number and reported the call within minutes to his chief of staff in Washington, D.C.  The phone number used to call the office was traced to Rana’s cell phone, and he was later arrested in Colorado.

The U.S. Capitol Police-Threat Assessment Section, FBI, Lafayette Police Department and the Costilla County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo prosecuted the case.

LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Florida man pleaded guilty this week to trafficking nearly 10 kilograms of cocaine. 

Kavin Grandison, 46, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.  The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter.  According to the guilty plea, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop on Grandison’s vehicle on February 22, 2018 in Calcasieu Parish.  After a search of the vehicle, the officer discovered sealed plastic bags in the gas tank, which contained powder cocaine.  The substance was tested, weighed and found to be 4.972 kilograms of cocaine.  During an earlier arrest, officers had stopped Grandison’s vehicle on November 8, 2017 in Jackson County, Mississippi, and conducted a search of his vehicle. They found six sealed packages in a detergent box that later tested to be 4.384 kilograms of cocaine.  Grandison was found with a total of 9.356 kilograms of cocaine confiscated from both vehicle stops.

Grandison faces up to 40 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a $5 million fine.  The court set the sentencing date for December 17, 2018.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Calcasieu Anti-Drug Team conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/ALEXANDRIA/LAKE CHARLES/MONROE, La.  – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that after a year of increased firearm and violent crime prosecutions, that there has been a substantial reduction in violent crime throughout the Western District of Louisiana.

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

Throughout the past year, the Western District of Louisiana has partnered with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. During this time, the Western District of Louisiana has quadrupled the number of violent crime and firearm prosecutions.  And these prosecutions have shown results.

“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs.  I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts, and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face.  Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”  

“We have made reducing violent crime in our district a top priority,” Joseph stated. “Project Safe Neighborhoods is a program that helps our office work with local law enforcement to target the worst offenders. As a result of this, we’ve seen violent crime rates drop in many areas of our state. This program works, and we hope to continue this program to further reduce crime and protect the citizens of our communities. I want to thank each and every law enforcement officer, whether federal, state or local, as well as the prosecutors and Justice Department staff who have worked so hard during this last year to take violent offenders out of our neighborhoods.”

As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the revitalized PSN program, here are some of the highlights of our PSN actions over the past year:

Enforcement Actions

In the past year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana has prosecuted more than 200 defendants throughout the district for firearm related offenses, including felons and drug dealers in possession of firearms.

• The U.S. Attorney’s Office started its prosecutions a year ago with the announcement on October 5, 2017 of indictments of 16 defendants in separate cases across north Louisiana. For more information, see the news release here.
• Throughout the past year, the office has prosecuted firearms related cases under Project Safe Neighborhoods averaging at least one PSN prosecution a week. An example of such prosecutions can be viewed here.
• The U.S. Attorney announced increased prosecutions in Northwest Louisiana. Read more here.
• United States Attorney Joseph announced increased prosecutions in the Acadiana area. More can be learned here.

Community Partnerships

Since the reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods, these partnerships have been expanded to include the Louisiana State Attorney General’s Office in addition to other agencies.

• For the first time in its history, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Louisiana Attorney General announced a joint effort to increase violent crime prosecutions. See more here.
• The office announced grants available to local law enforcement. See more information here.
• As part of its community outreach efforts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has participated in a number of events and programs to educate and strengthen communities throughout the Western District of Louisiana such as National Night Out and drug prevention education events. See more here.

Improvements to Community Safety

• The FBI’s official crime data for 2017 reflects that, after two consecutive, historic increases in violent crime, in the first year of the Trump Administration, the nationwide violent crime rate began to decline.  The nationwide violent crime rate decreased by approximately one percent in 2017, while the nationwide homicide rate decreased by nearly one and a half percent.
• The preliminary information we have for 2018 gives us reason for optimism that our efforts are continuing to pay off. Public data from 60 major cities show that violent crime was down by nearly five percent in those cities in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period a year ago.
• With the increase of 200 defendant prosecutions throughout the district, it has resulted in a noticeable reduction in crime across the district. In Shreveport, violent crime has dropped by 13 percent and indications are that similar results are materializing in other communities throughout the district.

 

These enforcement actions and partnerships 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. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as 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. Learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods.

SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE, La. – U.S. Attorney’s Office staff members and local law enforcement and community leaders met in neighborhoods throughout Caddo, Bossier and Lafayette parishes Tuesday as part of their annual National Night Out crime and drug prevention events.  The U.S. Attorney’s participation highlights the teamwork approach of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  This year’s National Night Out marked the one year anniversary of PSN’s reinvigoration. 

United States Attorney David C. Joseph, Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Cytheria D. Jernigan, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Cassidy and Leon Whitten, and legal assistants Mona Hardwick, Katina Freeman and Tanya’ Porter joined U.S. Marshal Henry Whitehorn, Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler, Shreveport Police Chief Alan Crump, Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator, the Shreveport Fire Department and other agency representatives for events in Caddo and Bossier Parishes. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Van Hook, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamilla A. Bynog, Robert Abendroth, Desiree Williams and Dan McCoy joined the Lafayette Police Department, Lafayette Sheriff’s Department and other agencies for National Night Out events in Lafayette.

Residents unlocked their doors, turned on porch lights and spent the evening outside with family, friends, neighbors, emergency response personnel and city officials. Many neighborhoods throughout Caddo and Bossier parishes hosted a variety of special events such as block parties, cookouts, parades, flashlight walks, contests, youth activities and anti-crime rallies. In Lafayette, residents met at the Martin Luther King Center on Willow Street. The events included music, food, games, fun jumps and displays by the Lafayette Sheriff’s Office, the Lafayette Police Department SWAT Team, Horse Patrol, Motorcycle Unit and the Police Command Bus.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.

Thousands of communities across the United States took part in the 35th Annual National Night Out starting in August. To find out more about National Night Out, visit the National Association for Town Watch at natw.org.

MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that an illegal alien from Honduras was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months in prison for illegally possessing a pistol in West Monroe.

Medardo Zuniga, 36, of Honduras, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty on one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. According to the June 13, 2018 guilty plea, a West Monroe police officer conducted a traffic stop on a truck Zuniga was a passenger in on September 15, 2017. Three individuals were in the vehicle including Zuniga. After a search of the vehicle, an empty pistol magazine was found on Zuniga, and a Taurus 9 mm-caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number was found on the floorboard where he had been sitting. After his arrest, he admitted to being in the United States illegally and to possessing the pistol. The defendant was arrested in 2007 for driving unlawfully and had been previously deported on November 14, 2007. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

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

LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a former office manager of a Cameron company was sentenced Monday to 12 months and one day in prison for stealing more than $91,000 from her employer. 

Belinda Miltenberger, 47, of Cameron, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert G. James on one count of wire fraud. She was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $91,846 in restitution.

According to the June 13, 2018 guilty plea’s factual basis, Miltenberger was the office manager for Cameron Fisheries LLC, a seafood processing and wholesale company located in Cameron. Her responsibilities included maintaining office records of all sales and other business transactions. From January 2016 until about February 2017, Miltenberger embezzled $91,846 from cash seafood sales. Instead of depositing certain cash sales into the company’s bank account, she kept the money for her personal use. She then falsified business records to cover her abuse. When company officials in Seattle became concerned about account balances, they asked Miltenberger to prepare end-of-year financial statements. In response, she created fraudulent financial reports and sent them to her supervisors to continue to conceal her scheme.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard A. Willis prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a federal jury in Shreveport found five members of the “Block Boyz” gang guilty on RICO and drug trafficking offenses, as well as firearm offenses.

The five Shreveport residents found guilty were: DeMarcus D. Morris, 29; Jimmie R. Durden Jr., 29; Lonnie D. Johnson, 24; Gary J. McCain, 24; and Larshanda C. Davenport, 45. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote presided over the trial that started Monday, September 17, 2018 and ended today. The jury deliberated for approximately five hours before returning the verdict. All of the defendants were named as part of a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization or RICO conspiracy in the indictment, which was filed in July of 2017.

The defendants were found guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Distributing Crack Cocaine, and Distributing Powder Cocaine.

The “Block Boyz” gang has terrorized the Queensborough neighborhood for too long,” said U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph.  “Today’s verdict will bring some peace to the citizens in Shreveport, and sends a clear message to drug dealers and gangs that this type of violent crime will not be tolerated - you will go to federal prison.  These defendants were given a fair trial, and now they will face their consequences.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners and the citizens of our communities to rid our streets of violent crime, and make our communities a safer place to work, live and play.“

“I applaud the jury’s decision and thank them for their hard work and sacrifices throughout this trial,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric J. Rommal stated.  “I also commend the great work put forth by all of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to locate, apprehend, and bring the “Block Boyz” to justice.  Without a doubt, the residents of Shreveport will feel much safer now and hopefully be able to reclaim their neighborhoods.”

Evidence admitted at trial revealed that beginning in 2012, the defendants took part in a criminal organization known as the “Block Boyz” and the “Get Money Boyz” or “GMB.” The organization distributed controlled substances, murdered, robbed, possessed firearms illegally and conducted other crimes primarily within the Queensborough and Ingleside neighborhoods of Shreveport. Gang members were charged with at least 66 acts that members of the organization committed to further the RICO conspiracy. The acts include threats, sale of drugs and shootings. The organization sold crack cocaine, powder cocaine, roxicodone, marijuana, ecstasy and alprazolam.

Gang members sold illegal drugs and committed armed robberies. They maintained and circulated a collection of firearms for use in their criminal activity and used cell phones to operate their criminal enterprise. Members of the organization bragged about their illegal activity, such as their possession of firearms, and took pictures of themselves with firearms and money to intimidate others and increase their position in the community.

As a result of their conviction on the RICO count, each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison.  In addition to the RICO penalties, four of the five defendants face additional penalties for the drug and firearm offenses.  The defendants also face fines up to $5 million and forfeiture of property seized in the case.

Frank J. Morris, 25; Ravion M. Alford, 23; Rodrick R. Hicks, 24; and Golanda W. Atkins, 41 all of Shreveport, were also indicted as part of the conspiracy. Alford pleaded guilty on December 21, 2017 to the RICO count.  The court set sentencing for October 17, 2018. Hicks pleaded guilty on January 29, 2018 to the RICO count with a sentencing date of October 17, 2018. Morris pleaded guilty on August 30, 2018 to the RICO count with a sentencing date of January 4, 2019. Atkins was dismissed from the indictment on September 7, 2018.

The FBI Northwest Louisiana Violent Crimes Task Force, ATF, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Desoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Shreveport Police Department participated in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison D. Bushnell and Tennille M. Gilreath are prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph joined the Department of Justice today in announcing more than $70 million in grant funding to bolster school security, educate and train students and faculty, and support law enforcement officers and first responders who arrive on the scene of a school violence incident, including $150,000 for the Evangeline Parish School Board in the Western District of Louisiana.

These grants are in addition to the funding to the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), announced by Attorney General Sessions last week, to expand and update their curriculum to better support training programs. These grants combined will better protect students, teachers, faculty and first responders across the United States. Additionally, the Department is awarding more than $64 million to state agencies to improve the completeness, quality and accessibility of the nation’s criminal record systems, which will help law enforcement and increase the effectiveness of background checks.

“President Trump and his administration will ensure the safety of every American school,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “Earlier this year, he signed into law the STOP School Violence Act, which provides grant funding to develop anonymous school threat reporting systems, to implement school building security measures, and to train students, school personnel, and law enforcement on how to prevent school violence. Today I am announcing $70 million in these grants to hundreds of cities and states across America. These grants will go a long way toward giving young people and their families both safety and peace of mind.”

 “There is no more important cause than protecting our children from harm,” Joseph stated. “This grant will allow the Evangeline Parish School Board to develop better safety measures for its students and train crisis teams in furtherance of that end. I want to congratulate the school board for being awarded this grant and thank the Department of Justice for making it available.”

The Office of Justice Program’s (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) together are making more than 220 awards to jurisdictions across the country to help make schools more secure. The awards, granted through three funding streams, will provide new technology for reporting systems and other threat deterrent measures and create school safety training and education programs for school administrators, staff, students, and first responders. This includes the support for existing crisis intervention teams and the creation of new ones.

• BJA’s STOP School Violence Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program will provide 68 awards valued at more than $19 million. This funding supports training to create and operate threat assessment and crisis intervention teams and to develop technology for local or regional anonymous reporting systems. This technology may be in the form of a mobile phone application, hotline, or website. The Evangeline Parish School Board is the recipient of this program grant.
• The STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program, also managed by BJA, will provide training and education on preventing violence and effectively responding to related mental health crises. This program will fund 85 awards at nearly $28 million.
• The COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) will provide nearly $25 million to 91 jurisdictions for school safety measures including coordination with law enforcement, training for law enforcement to prevent student violence against others and self, target hardening measures, and technology for expedited notification of law enforcement during an emergency.

The grants are authorized by the STOP School Violence Act, which are intended to improve school security by helping students and teachers reduce exposure to risks, prevent acts of violence, and quickly recognize and respond to violent attacks.

The Department also announced that it has awarded more than $64 million to state agencies to improve the completeness, quality and accessibility of the nation’s criminal record systems. These grants are administered by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, part of OJP. Approximately $43 million in funding will be administered through the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP), and nearly $21 million will be awarded under the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Act Record Improvement Program.  These grant programs help states automate and upgrade records accessed by the firearms background check system.  This year, at the direction of the Attorney General, the Department prioritized funding for projects that improve accessibility of criminal history records, domestic violence convictions, and information on persons who are prohibited from possessing firearms for mental-health related reasons.

The Department is also investing over $1 million in research to better understand the factors behind mass shooting incidents. The grant awards, made by the Department’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ), part of OJP, support scientific investigations that will examine factors that contribute to mass violence, identify any patterns in mass shootings, analyze psychological and social life histories of mass shooters and community-level predictors of mass violence, and will examine firearm purchasing patterns of known mass shooters in order to create a risk prediction tool.  

For addition information on today’s grant announcements, visit www.bja.gov or www.cops.usdoj.gov. 

NOTE: The breakdown of the STOP School Violence Grants can be found here: STOP School Violence Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program, STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program, and COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program.

LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Lake Charles man previously convicted of a felony was sentenced Monday to 120 months in prison for possessing a sawed-off shotgun in addition to other firearms and trafficking drugs.

Mark Washington, 46, of Lake Charles, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert G. James on one count of possession of a shotgun with a barrel of less than 18 inches in length and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the June 5, 2018 guilty plea, members of the Calcasieu Parish Combined Anti-Drug Taskforce responded to a report of drug activity at a home on April 18, 2017 at Hinton Drive in Lake Charles. Upon arriving at the scene, agents found Washington standing in the driveway of the residence near two men who were inside a car. Agents searched the residence and found one Sigarms Model 250 semi-automatic pistol with a magazine containing 12 live rounds; one Glock Model 36, .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol containing a magazine with four live rounds; one sawed-off Stevens Model 940E, .410-gauge break-action shotgun; and one sawed-off 20-gauge break-action shotgun of unknown make and model. They also found loose synthetic marijuana on the television stand in the living room, and they located 936 pills, two pink plastic bags of synthetic marijuana, a cigarette pack containing a glass vile with drug residue, a cellophane baggie with five ecstasy pills and $1,145. Washington said he lived at the residence and had bought the guns on the street. Washington also admitted to being a convicted felon, and that he was not allowed to be around firearms. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

The ATF and Calcasieu Parish Combined Anti-Drug Taskforce conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog prosecuted the case.

LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that two men from Singer were sentenced Monday for robbing a DeQuincy bank of nearly $16,000.

Gordon Scott Cooper, 56, of Singer Louisiana, was sentenced to 84 months in prison and Chad Allen Cooper, 39, also of Singer, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for one count of bank robbery. They were also sentenced to five years of supervised release and were ordered to pay $15,899 restitution. United States District Judge Robert G. James presided over the hearing. According to the guilty pleas, Gordon Cooper entered a bank in DeQuincy, Louisiana, with an air-powered BB gun that looked like an automatic pistol and stole $15,999 from two teller drawers.  Police later learned that a maroon Honda Pilot had been seen in the area prior to the robbery and that the driver had been seen acting suspiciously.  Police located Chad Cooper who is Gordon Cooper’s nephew and found BBs and a CO2 cartridge for the air pistol used in the robbery. Chad Cooper admitted to assisting in the robbery and directed officers on how to find his uncle. At Gordon Cooper’s residence, police located the Honda Pilot, a plastic bag containing money, and a pair of tennis shoes that Gordon Cooper identified as the ones worn in the robbery.

The FBI and the Dequincy Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – On the first day of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph and the Department of Justice announced that a half a million-dollar grant has been awarded to the St. Mary Parish government drug court to aid in the battle against opioid abuse.

The grant is included in $320 million in grants the Department of Justice has issued to combat the opioid crisis across the United States. The unprecedented funding will directly help those most impacted by the deadliest drug crisis in American history, including crime victims, children, families and first responders. In St. Mary Parish, the $500,000 will be used for the improvement, enhancement or expansion of drug court services. The grants are provided to agencies within the Western District of Louisiana through the Office of Justice Programs (OJP).

Drug courts have been demonstrated to reduce recidivism and substance abuse among high risk, high need participants and increase their likelihood of successful rehabilitation. These courts integrate evidence-based substance abuse treatment, mandatory drug testing, sanctions and incentives, and transitional services in judicially supervised court settings.

“Fighting the opioid epidemic is more than just about making arrests,” Joseph stated. “The Department of Justice supports drug courts and programs that aim to treat and address the underlying addiction left in the aftermath of opioid use. Through a multi-faceted approach, we can reduce damage caused by these dangerous drugs. I want to thank the Justice Department for making these funds available to the citizens of St. Mary Parish.”

“President Trump has made ending the opioid crisis a priority for this administration, and under his leadership, the Department of Justice has taken historic action,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “Today we are announcing our next steps: investing $320 million into all three parts of the President’s comprehensive plan to end the epidemic: prevention, treatment and enforcement. We are attacking this crisis from every angle—and we will not let up until we bring it to an end.”

In 2017, more than 72,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses, an increase from the 64,000 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of these deaths can be attributed to opioids, including illicit fentanyl and its analogues. October marks two important anti-drug events: Red Ribbon Week and National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Red Ribbon Week takes place every year between October 23 to 31 and encourages students, parents, schools and communities to promote drug-free lifestyles. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 27 aims to provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent overdose deaths and drug addictions before they start. DOJ expanded on DEA’s Drug Take Back Days and collected more than 2.7 million pounds of expired or unused prescription drugs since April 2017. 

The Attorney General has been resolute in the fight against the drug crisis in America. The Department assigned more than 300 federal prosecutors to U.S. Attorneys’ offices and hired more than 400 DEA task force officers, announced the formation of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, a new program to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas, and created a new data analytics program called the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit to assist 12 prosecutors sent to drug “hot spot districts.” In addition, the Department charged more than 3,000 defendants with trafficking in heroin, fentanyl, or prescription drugs in fiscal year 2017, announced the first-ever indictments of Chinese nationals for fentanyl trafficking, and scheduled variants of fentanyl to prevent illicit drug labs from circumventing the law. In addition, DOJ executed the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action charging more than 600 defendants and proposed rules consistent with President Trump’s “Safe Prescribing Plan,” requiring a reduction of ten percent in 2019 in manufacturing quotas. The Department dismantled AlphaBay, the largest criminal marketplace on the Internet and has already generated prosecutions in the fight against online drug trafficking through the Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement Team (J-CODE). 

The approximately $320 million awarded by the OJP will be distributed in order to maximize effectiveness over the country. A breakdown of the grant funding can be found here.

• Innovative Prosecution Solutions for Combating Violent Crime and Opioid Abuse ($2.8 Million) to help prosecutors develop strategies to address violent crime caused by illegal opioid distribution and abuse.
• Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program ($162 Million) to help jurisdictions plan and implement programs aimed at reducing opioid abuse and mitigating its impact on crime victims, including training and technical assistance.
• Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program ($5.9 Million) to address the treatment needs of people using opioids under the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program.
• Helping Children and Youth Impacted by Opioids ($46.6 Million) to help children and youth impacted by the opioid crisis, including training and technical assistance.
• Drug Courts ($81.2 Million) to assist adult, juvenile, and family drug courts and veterans treatment courts, including training and technical assistance.
• Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program ($17 Million) to address the dramatic increase in deaths and the backlogs of seized drugs as a result of the opioid crisis.
• Opioid-Related Research for Criminal Justice Purposes ($4.1 Million) to develop of new tools to enforce the law, ensure public safety, prevent and control crime, and ensure fair and impartial administration of justice.

 

The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a man from Pineville was sentenced to 60 months in prison for accessing child pornography online.

Corey Brossette, 24, of Pineville, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of access with intent to view child pornography. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release and is required to register as a sex offender. According to the May 17, 2018 guilty plea, law enforcement agents detected Brossette’s computer accessing a child pornography website on what’s known as the dark web or the deep web and viewing child pornography.  After agents determined the location of the computer accessing the website, agents searched the home where Brossette was living at the time and interviewed Brossette.  He admitted viewing child pornography online and using the dark web. To learn more about the dark web or deep web, visit the FBI’s website at www.fbi.gov/news/stories/a-primer-on-darknet-marketplaces.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Those concerned may leave tips with the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Tips may be submitted anonymously. The Alexandria FBI office number is (318) 443-5097.

The FBI conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike O’Mara prosecuted the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that an Abbeville man was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for illegally possessing a pistol.

Carlin Jerrid Montgomery, 38, of Abbeville, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the July 2, 2018 guilty plea, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Montgomery’s home on April 28, 2017 and found a .45-caliber pistol and ammunition. The handgun was concealed in the exterior shell of a black metal stereo tuner lying on the floor under Montgomery’s bedroom window. The defendant was convicted on June 11, 2002 for possession of crack cocaine and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that three illegal aliens from Guatemala were sentenced Tuesday for re-entering the United States after having been previously removed.

Denis Izara-Rivera, 25; Margarito Hernandez-Izara, 27; and Marvin Lopez-Lopez, 25; all of Guatemala, were sentenced to time served by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of illegal re-entry of a removed alien. They are also to be deported after they are turned over to immigration agents. According to the guilty pleas, Sabine Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrested the defendants who were all riding together on August 19, 2018 near Many, Louisiana.

After further investigation, law enforcement agents discovered that:

Izara-Rivera had been previously removed twice. He was first arrested on September 26, 2013 in McAllen, Texas, and removed to Guatemala. After that, he was arrested once more on October 26, 2013 and removed again to Guatemala;

Hernande-Izara had been previously removed once. He was found on May 26, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona, and later removed to Guatemala; and

Marvin Lopez-Lopez had been previously removed once. He was found on December 11, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona, and later removed to Guatemala.

United States Border Patrol and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Shreveport man pleaded guilty Tuesday to using counterfeit cash to buy a car.

Tyler B. Jilg, 33, of Shreveport, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Hornsby to one count of passing or uttering counterfeit obligations or securities. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote.  According to the guilty plea, Shreveport Police saw a reportedly stolen black Lexus parked in front of a house on March 24, 2018. Two days before, Sarah McClain, 22, also of Shreveport, reported her ex-boyfriend, Tyler Jilg, had stolen her black Lexus.  After investigating, Shreveport Police determined that Jilg and McClain bought the car from another person using 58 counterfeit $100 bills. The owner realized sometime after the transaction the money was counterfeit and tried to make contact with the defendants, but they ignored him. After his arrest, Jilg admitted to passing the counterfeit money to the car owner.

Jilg faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for January 9, 2019. McClain also pleaded guilty to the same count as Jilg on September 5, 2018. The court set McClain’s sentencing date for December 12, 2018.

The U.S. Secret Service and the Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike O’Mara is prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph and Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers announced that a Fort Polk soldier was sentenced Monday to 135 months in prison for manufacturing and detonating a chemical weapon in the Kisatchie National Forest adjacent to the Fort Polk Army installation.

Ryan Keith Taylor, 24, of New Llano, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey for producing, possessing, and using a chemical weapon in violation of federal law. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to the June 11, 2018 guilty plea, Taylor detonated an explosive device containing chlorine gas on the morning of April 12, 2017 in the Kisatchie National Forest near Fort Polk. Three U.S. Army soldiers who were conducting a training exercise nearby heard the explosions and found Taylor standing near his vehicle filming the explosion with his cell phone. They then questioned Taylor and reported the incident to military police.

Upon arriving at the site of the explosion, Fort Polk military police investigators examined the scene and began collecting samples at the blast site. One investigator filled a plastic bag with a rock coated in an unknown substance. The bag immediately popped, and the investigator’s plastic gloves and boots began to melt. He also began to experience difficulty breathing and his skin started burning. Law enforcement later detained Taylor at Fort Polk and searched his vehicle. During the search, investigators found remnants of the explosive device and chlorine residue, which one investigator inhaled and touched, causing him to be hospitalized. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement agents found bomb-making notes, materials and chemical residue in Taylor’s vehicle, apartment and storage building. The two victims who inhaled the chlorine gas were treated multiple times for their injuries and effectively ended their military careers.

“Supporting and protecting our soldiers is of utmost importance to my office,” Joseph stated. “Those serving our country put their lives on the line daily to protect us.   They should not be put in danger needlessly. The chemical weapon the defendant created in this case is banned under international and national laws because of its terrible effects on the human body.  I want to thank our U.S. military, federal and local law enforcement for their combined effort investigating this case and bringing this defendant to justice.”

“Taylor produced and detonated a chemical bomb near Fort Polk, causing injury to his fellow soldiers who responded to and investigated the incident.” said Assistant Attorney General Demers.  “Today’s sentence holds Taylor accountable for his crime and makes clear that we will not tolerate such conduct.  I want to thank the agents and prosecutors who are responsible for this result and our military and local law enforcement partners for their significant contributions to this investigation.”

The U.S. Army Directorate of Emergency Services, Military Police, Criminal Investigation Command, and Military Intelligence/Army Counterintelligence Gulf Coast at Fort Polk, Louisiana; the FBI and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force; the Louisiana State Police; the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office; and local police and fire agencies in Vernon Parish investigated the case.

U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph, Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis E. Robinson, and Trial Attorney David Cora of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism section prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – David Prejean, a former Sergeant in the K-9 Unit of the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office (IPSO), was sentenced Monday to serve 30 months in prison and one year supervised release on his guilty plea to violating the civil rights of a detainee, announced David C. Joseph, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana; John Gore, the Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; and FBI New Orleans Division Special Agent in Charge Eric J. Rommal. Prejean previously admitted, during a guilty plea hearing, that he acted without legal justification on Dec. 6, 2012, when he commanded his K-9 to bite the detainee, and then struck the detainee, resulting in bodily injury.

According to statements made in court and filings made in connection with the guilty plea, Prejean was a K-9 Sergeant on the IMPACT Unit, a specialized unit at IPSO, when he was called to the Iberia Parish Jail on Dec. 6, 2012, to assist with a shakedown. During the course of the shakedown, an inmate turned to look at Prejean after being told not to, at which point Prejean threw the inmate to the ground and then commanded his dog to bite him. Prejean also struck the inmate several times. Despite the fact that the inmate had complied with Prejean’s commands and did not pose a threat to anyone on the rec yard, Prejean allowed the dog to bite the inmate for several seconds before pulling the K9 away. Prejean’s unlawful use of force resulted in injury to the inmate. Following the assault, Prejean wrote false report designed to cover up his unjustified use of force.

“Law enforcement officers face danger in the field every day protecting the rights and safety of those in our communities,” said Joseph. “It is necessary that they follow the laws they are sworn to protect. Our district takes violations of the law seriously and will hold those accountable those who ignore those laws, especially those who tasked with their enforcement.”

 “The United States Constitution protects all individuals, including those who are incarcerated,” said Gore. “The Justice Department will uphold the rule of law and aggressively prosecute any violation of an inmate’s civil rights.”  

 “FBI New Orleans vigorously investigates all credible allegations of civil rights violations, including those who are incarcerated,” Rommal stated. “Violations of one’s civil rights will not be tolerated.”

This case was investigated by the Lafayette Resident Agency of the FBI, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Mudrick of the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Tona Boyd of the Civil Rights Division.

Ryan Keith Taylor, 24, of New Llano, Louisiana, and a soldier at Fort Polk, was sentenced today to 135 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for manufacturing, possessing and detonating a chemical weapon in the Kisatchie National Forest adjacent to the Fort Polk Army installation in Louisiana.

The sentence was announced by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph for the Western District of Louisiana.  The sentence was issued by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey.

“Taylor produced and detonated a chemical bomb near Fort Polk, causing injury to his fellow soldiers who responded to and investigated the incident.” said Assistant Attorney General Demers.  “Today’s sentence holds Taylor accountable for his crime and makes clear that we will not tolerate such conduct.  I want to thank the agents and prosecutors who are responsible for this result and our military and local law enforcement partners for their significant contributions to this investigation.”

“Supporting and protecting our soldiers is of utmost importance to my office,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph. “Those serving our country put their lives on the line daily to protect us.   They should not be put in danger needlessly. The chemical weapon the defendant created in this case is banned under international and national laws because of its terrible effects on the human body.  I want to thank our U.S. military, federal and local law enforcement for their combined effort investigating this case and bringing this defendant to justice.”

According to the June 11, guilty plea, Taylor detonated an explosive device containing chlorine gas on the morning of April 12, 2017 in the Kisatchie National Forest near Fort Polk.  Three U.S. Army soldiers who were conducting a training exercise nearby heard the explosions and found Taylor standing near his vehicle filming the explosion with his cell phone.  They then questioned Taylor and reported the incident to military police.

Upon arriving at the site of the explosion, Fort Polk military police investigators examined the scene and began collecting samples at the blast site.  One investigator filled a plastic bag with a rock coated in an unknown substance.  The bag immediately popped and the investigator’s plastic gloves and boots began to melt. He also began to experience difficulty breathing and his skin started burning.  Law enforcement later detained Taylor at Fort Polk and searched his vehicle.  During the search, investigators found remnants of the explosive device and chlorine residue, which one investigator inhaled and touched, causing him to be hospitalized.  During the course of the investigation, law enforcement agents found bomb-making notes, materials and chemical residue in Taylor’s vehicle, apartment and storage building.  The two victims who inhaled the chlorine gas were treated multiple times for their injuries and effectively ended their military careers.

The U.S. Army Directorate of Emergency Services, Military Police, Criminal Investigation Command, and Military Intelligence/Army Counterintelligence Gulf Coast at Fort Polk, Louisiana; the FBI and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force; the Louisiana State Police; the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office; and local police and fire agencies in Vernon Parish investigated the case.

U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph, Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis E. Robinson of the Western District of Louisiana, and Trial Attorney David Cora of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism section prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a Texas man was sentenced to 57 months in prison for traveling to Lake Charles to have sex with a 12 year old. 

Wendell Eaves, 61, of Kirbyville, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey on one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual contact with a minor. He was also sentenced to 20 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. According to the June 11, 2018 guilty plea, Eaves communicated with a group of people who said they had a 12-year-old female available for prostitution. The defendant planned to meet the girl at a Lake Charles casino on September 22, 2017, but law enforcement uncovered the plan and arrested him at the casino.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) also encourage the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) 347-2423.  Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls.  Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online by visiting their website at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp or through the Operation Predator smartphone application www.ice.gov/predator/smartphone-app.  Tips may be submitted anonymously.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Lake Charles Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a Lafayette man who owned a company that purported to sell chemical free disinfection machines was indicted for stealing more than $2 million from investors.

John K. Morrow, 48, of Lafayette, was indicted on four counts of wire fraud. According to the indictment, Morrow was the owner of a Louisiana company called UVC Technologies LLC, which was formed in 2011.  UVC Technologies represented itself as providing green, chemical free disinfection machines utilizing ultraviolet germicidal irradiation. Instead of operating the business as represented to investors, he defrauded the investors out of $2,066,923 from 2011 to 2016. Although Morrow told investors that he would use funds for business expenses, he spent their funds on personal expenses.

Morrow faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution, forfeiture and a $250,000 fine.

The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly P. Uebinger is prosecuting the case.

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

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Shreveport felon was sentenced last week to 162 months in prison for possessing two pistols with silencers after being arrested for burglary.

Tarodganey Sumner, 26, of Shreveport, was sentenced September 13, 2018 by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the May 3, 2018 guilty plea, Shreveport police arrested Sumner on September 11, 2017 for burglarizing a home on Burson Drive. Police found a Volquartsen Custom, .22-caliber pistol with an attached Silcenerco Spectre II, .22-caliber silencer on him. Police also searched the car Sumner had been driving that day and found a Benelli Arms S.PA., 9 mm pistol with an attached Silencerco 450SPREY, .45-caliber silencer. The two silencers were reported stolen and not registered to Sumner. He also was convicted on June 20, 2011 of burglary in Caddo Parish, and as a felon, was not allowed to possess firearms.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany E. Fields is prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that local efforts to increase violent crime prosecutions in the Acadiana area are having a substantial impact.

Mr. Joseph’s focus on violent crime is part of the Department of Justice’s ongoing effort to increase targeted prosecutions of violent crime through the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.  In the past year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana has prosecuted more than 200 defendants throughout the district, approximately 78 of which are in the Acadiana area, for firearm related offenses, including felons and drug dealers in possession of firearms. These prosecutions represent approximately three times the number of such cases than have been brought in previous years.

The PSN program is a collaborative effort led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office involving local, state and federal law enforcement.  In the Acadiana area, participants include the ATF, FBI, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Lafayette Parish District Attorney’s Office, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Police Department, Crowley Police Department, officers with the Lafayette City Marshal’s Office.  The program is successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safe for everyone.  United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority and has directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a crime reduction strategy involving PSN.

“Violent crime involving firearms has become a worsening problem in Acadiana,” Joseph stated.  ”This trend must end. We have been working with partner agencies to provide a targeted approached to reducing firearm-related violence by bringing federal charges against those felons and drug dealers most likely to cause violence in their communities. We want to spread the word that the full weight of the federal criminal justice system is committed to prosecuting those who spread violence in our communities.  They will be stopped.”

Included in our efforts, and in addition to the work of the ATF, is the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, a program that works hand in glove with the U.S. Attorney’s Project Safe Neighborhood Program.  To combat violent crime both in Lafayette and across the state, the FBI New Orleans Field Office has formed several gang task forces specifically to identify and eradicate drug dealers and violent offenders from Louisiana streets and neighborhoods. In concert with our Law Enforcement partners, the FBI utilizes intelligence-based analysis to strategically place gang task forces and federal resources throughout the state, which have been very effective.

These include:

South Central Louisiana Gang Task Force – Lafayette

Northwest Louisiana Violent Crime Task Force - Shreveport

Capital Area Gang Task – Baton Rouge

Central Louisiana Gang Task Force – Alexandria / Monroe

New Orleans Gang Task Force – New Orleans

These task forces pursue violent gangs through sustained, proactive, coordinated investigations to obtain prosecutions on violations such as racketeering, drug conspiracy, and firearms violations. The Safe Streets Task Force concept expands cooperation and communication among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, increasing productivity and avoiding duplication of investigative efforts.

One of the key components of a Safe Streets Task Force is being able to combine short term, street level enforcement activity coupled with investigative tools and resources to root out and prosecute the entire gang.

Utilizing these best practices and through a number of drug and gang related investigations, the FBI’s Safe Street Task Force, in conjunction with federal, state, and local law enforcement inundated Lafayette streets and neighborhoods to stop the violence, apprehend gang members, and pursue swift justice for those responsible.

In the past few months, the FBI’s Lafayette Safe Streets Task Force has accounted for federal charges against 15 gang members at various levels within drug trafficking organizations.  These include numerous narcotics and firearms charges, including over 150 pounds of methamphetamine, six firearms, and substantial quantities and heroin and cocaine.

The Western District of Louisiana consists of 42 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes and encompasses two-thirds of the State of Louisiana. This area covers the cities of Alexandria, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe and Shreveport.

LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that nine defendants were indicted for distributing methamphetamine and cocaine in Calcasieu and Beauregard parishes.

Five defendants from Calcasieu Parish and four illegal aliens from Cuba were named in the 16-count indictment. They are:

Antonio Montero, 55, of Cuba;

Julio Elizagarate, 67, of Cuba;

Michael Miers, 56, of DeRidder, Louisiana;

Zet Elizagarate, 56, of Lake Charles;

Feliz Perez, 55, of Cuba;

Juan Gonzalez, 66, of Cuba;

Gary S. Byrd, 47, of Sulphur, Louisiana;

Lionel Peschier, 48, of Sulphur; and

Angie Perez, 47, of Sulphur.

According to the indictment, Montero, Julio Elizagarate, Miers, Zet Elizagarate, Gary Bryd, Lionel Peshier and Angie Perez conspired to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine from June 7, 2017 to July 31, 2018.  Montero, Elizagarate, Miers, Zet Elizagarate, Felix Perez and Juan Gonzalez conspired to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine from May 31, 2018 to July 31, 2018. The illegal activity took place in Calcasieu and Beauregard parishes. Julio and Zet Elizagarate are married. Angie Perez and Felix Perez are not related.

The defendants have been arrested except for Byrd, Peschier and Angie Perez. Charges include: Count 1 – conspiracy to distribute  and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; Counts 2 and 4 to 9 – methamphetamine distribution; Count 3 – attempted distribution of methamphetamine; Counts 10 and 11 – possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; Count 12 – conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine; and Counts 13 to 16 – possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

The defendants face various possible penalties depending on the drug quantity involved, their roles in the conspiracy and their criminal history. On the drug conspiracy and distribution counts, some defendants face up to 20 years and one defendant faces up to 40 years in prison. The defendants also face up to life of supervised release. Additionally, the defendants face fines up to $5 million and forfeiture of property seized in the case.

COUNTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Antonio Montero * * *             *   * *       Julio Elizagarate *     * * * * * *     *         Michael Miers *                   * *   *     Zet Elizagarate *                     *         Felix Perez                       *     *   Juan Gonzalez                       *       * Gary Byrd * *                             Lionel Peschier * * *                           Angie Perez * *                            

Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, Louisiana State Police, Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, Combined Anti-Drug Task Force, Beauregard Sheriff’s Office, Lake Charles Police Department, Iowa Police Department and Deridder Police Department participated in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth is prosecuting the case.

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

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that two Texas men pleaded guilty to trafficking more than 10 kilograms of fentanyl through Louisiana.

Felipe Rodriguez, 22, of McAllen, Texas, and Brandon Montoya, 24, of Kaufman, Texas, pleaded guilty before Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to the guilty plea, a Louisiana State Police trooper conducted a traffic stop May 10, 2018 on an SUV on Interstate-20 at mile marker 31 going eastbound. The trooper searched the vehicle and found a plastic bag containing an unknown substance. The vehicle was brought to Louisiana State Police Troop G headquarters. Upon a more thorough search, 10 plastic 1-kilogram bags containing fentanyl were found. The defendants admitted to transporting the drugs. They said they had been approached in Houston to travel to California to obtain the drugs. They were then instructed to drive to Atlanta, Georgia, where they would be paid for the delivery.

“Fentanyl kills, and drug dealers are selling this highly addictive drug at a growing rate,” Joseph stated. “The Department of Justice in collaboration with state and local law enforcement are fighting daily to limit the availability and spread of this deadly drug. This case alone involved enough fentanyl to kill everybody in the state of Louisiana. Through education of our youth and vigorous prosecution of those who traffic in synthetic opioids, my office is making the fight against this epidemic a top priority.”

“Fentanyl is the greatest and the most significant synthetic opioid threat to the United States, including here in Louisiana, where as little as 2 milligrams is a lethal dose,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen G. Azzam “The seizure in this investigation, which was 10 kilograms, saved countless lives – there was enough fentanyl to kill 5 million people. These convictions should send a message to all drug traffickers that DEA will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who ruthlessly traffic this and other dangerous drugs.”

The defendants face up to 10 years to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a $10 million fine. The court set sentencing for January 31, 2019.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. In recent years it has become more widely available in the United States and grown as a threat to public safety. It only takes a very small amount of fentanyl or its derivatives- which can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin or mucus membranes (such as being inhaled through the nose or mouth)- to result in severe adverse reactions including death. For more information about fentanyl, visit www.dea.gov/druginfo/fentanyl.

The DEA, Homeland Security Investigations and Louisiana State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany E. Fields is prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a settlement was reached with a St. Landry Parish Head Start administrator over its use of federal grants.

According to the court documents filed in the case, Child Development Council of Acadiana Inc. (CDCAI) operated the Head Start program at 11 facilities in St. Landry Parish. In 2010, the organization constructed a central administration building in Opelousas for $1.2 million using grant money, without the approval of the U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Because of the disputed use of the grant money, CDCAI’s contract was not renewed in 2015. Instead, it was awarded to an interim grantee, the Community Development Institute Head Start (CDI). In 2017, CDCAI began changing door locks at Head Start buildings in St. Landry Parish and demanded back rent for use of the buildings from CDI. The U.S. Attorney filed a restraining order in September of 2017 against CDCAI for CDI to gain access to the buildings again.

As part of the settlement agreement, the CDCAI agreed to offset its interest in the Head Start properties to the ACF in exchange for CDCAI’s debt owed for the unapproved use of grant funds.

 “Providing early education and child development services to the community is central to the Head Start and Early Head Start programs,” Joseph stated. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prepared to seek legal action to ensure that the Administration for Children and Families is able to meet its mission.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen J. King and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the General Counsel handled the case.

The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a Monroe felon pleaded guilty to possessing a 12-gauge shotgun.

Adrian Terrell Riser, 32, of Monroe, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. According to the guilty plea, a Monroe Police Officer observed Riser on February 28, 2018 outside of an apartment on Richwood Road with a firearm in the left leg of his pants. He was arrested, and the weapon was found to be a Maverick Arms 12-gauge shotgun loaded with six rounds of ammunition. The defendant was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute marijuana in 2012, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in 2014 and possession of cocaine in 2016. These felonies barred him from possessing a firearm under federal law.

Riser faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set the sentencing date for January 2, 2019.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

The ATF and the Monroe Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a Haughton man was sentenced to 120 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine, which he obtained in Dallas.

Jason Rich, 47, of Haughton, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to the May 15, 2018 guilty plea, a Louisiana State Police trooper stopped Rich’s vehicle May 3, 2018 near the intersection of Interstate 220 and Louisiana Highway 80. The trooper searched the vehicle and found a semi-automatic handgun, 141.3 grams of methamphetamine, 36.5 grams of the marijuana and three blue and white capsules containing approximately 31.1 grams of methamphetamine. Rich said he knew about the firearm and had purchased 4 ounces of methamphetamine from two different sources in the Dallas area.

The DEA and the DEA task force, which consists of state and local agencies, including the Louisiana State Police and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that one Shreveport felon was sentenced and two other felons pleaded guilty this week to possessing firearms prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.

 

Shreveport felon sentenced to 30 months in prison for illegally possessing firearm in car at Quail Creek Road apartment

Charles M. Thomas, 21, of Shreveport, was sentenced Tuesday to two and a half years in prison by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of felon in possession of a firearm. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the February 21, 2018 guilty plea, a Shreveport Police officer observed a vehicle idling in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Quail Creek Road.  When the officer approached the vehicle, he observed Thomas, the driver, placing a handgun under his seat.  The firearm was loaded with four rounds of .45 caliber ammunition.  Thomas had previously been convicted of three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm in 2016. The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case.

 

Shreveport felon pleads guilty to possessing pistol at Monkhouse Drive hotel

Kevin Summerfield, 26, of Shreveport, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. According to the guilty plea, a Shreveport Police officer encountered Summerfield at a hotel on Monkhouse Drive. The officer observed that Summerfield had a firearm in his waistband, and he was subsequently arrested. The firearm was a Hi-Point, Model CF380, .380-caliber pistol and was loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition. Summerfield was previously convicted of two burglary felonies in 2011 and was not allowed to possess a firearm according to federal law. Summerfield faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for December 19, 2018. The ATF and the Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan is prosecuting the case.

 

Shreveport felon pleads guilty to possessing pistol in car at Dickinson Street

Kenneth W. Robinson, 33, of Shreveport, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement officers observed Robinson on January 25, 2018 sitting in a vehicle on Dickinson Street. When officers approached, Robinson fled the vehicle on foot to a nearby apartment. Officers saw a Smith & Wesson SW9VE, 9 mm pistol on the driver’s side floorboard where Robinson had been sitting. They also located Robinson’s mobile phone next to the firearm. He was later arrested and admitted that the firearm was his. Robinson was previously convicted of illegal use of a weapon in 2004, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in 2008 and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in 2013. The felonies restricted him from possessing a firearm under federal law. Robinson faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for December 20, 2018. The ATF, Caddo-Shreveport Narcotics Unit and the Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg is prosecuting the case.

These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that an illegal alien from Colombia was sentenced Wednesday to 36 months in prison for using a stolen birth certificate and Social Security card to obtain identification cards in Monroe.

Jimmy Hurtado, 36, of Colombia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty on one count of falsely representing to be a citizen of the United States, one count of false representation and use of a Social Security number, and one count of aggravated identity theft. According to the guilty plea, Hurtado used the identity of a United States citizen from Puerto Rico in 2010 to obtain a state-issued identification card from the Monroe Department of Public Safety Office. He supplied a birth certificate and a Social Security number. He renewed the identification card in 2011 and 2012 and obtained a driver’s license using the same documents he used to obtain the state-issued identification card.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, ATF and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a former resident physician at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center – Shreveport (LSUHSC) pleaded guilty to forging prescriptions for a controlled substance and then using false identification to fill those prescriptions.

Kevin V. Patel, 32, originally of Naperville, Illinois, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to one count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. According to the guilty plea, Patel was a resident physician at LSUHSC in Shreveport from 2014 to 2017.  In May and June of 2017, Patel issued five forged prescriptions for controlled substances in his roommate’s name.  Four were issued using the prescription pads of other physicians, without their knowledge or authorization.  Patel then used his roommate’s identification at local pharmacies, without the roommate’s knowledge or approval, to successfully fill four of the forged prescriptions.  Through this and other means, from April 2017 to June 2017, Patel fraudulently obtained approximately 150 tablets of Adderall and approximately 150 tablets of Vyvanse, both Schedule II controlled substances.

Patel faces up to four years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for January 3, 2019.

The DEA conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan is prosecuting the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that four illegal aliens from Mexico and one from Guatemala pleaded guilty Tuesday to re-entering the United States after having been previously removed.

Jose Benjamin Duran-Tovar, 32, of Mexico; Ricardo Garcia-Herrera, 26, of Mexico; Adrian Valadez-Martinez, 27, of Mexico; Jorge Armando Venegas-Sanchez, 28, of Mexico; and Mario Orlando Lopez-Tzoy, 26, of Guatemala, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. According to the guilty pleas, Sabine Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrested the defendants who were all riding together on June 21, 2018 near Many, Louisiana.

After further investigation, law enforcement agents discovered that:

Duran-Tovar had been previously removed seven times. He was first arrested on June 8, 2009 in Beaumont, Texas, and removed to Mexico on June 9, 2009. After that, he was arrested six more times and removed to Mexico each time;

Garcia-Herrera had been previously removed twice. He was first arrested on July 19, 2011, near Hebbronville, Texas, and voluntarily returned to Mexico. He was arrested again on February 2, 2013 in Pike County, Mississippi, and later removed;

Valadez-Martinez was previously removed once before. He was arrested on September 7, 2015 near Carrizo Springs, Texas, and removed on September 8, 2015, at the Del Rio, Texas Port of Entry;

Venegas-Sanchez was previously removed once before. He was arrested on November 25, 2015 near Harlington, Texas, and was removed to Mexico on November 26, 2015; and

Lopez-Tzoy was previously removed once before. He was arrested and later removed on April 27, 2010. He re-entered the country on February 28, 2013, near Hidalgo, Texas.

The defendants were sentenced at the guilty plea hearing to time served and are to be deported.

United States Border Patrol and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo is prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a Morgan City man was sentenced to one year and three months in prison for failing to report more than $250,000 in income on his 2012 tax return.

Victory Nam Ho, 39, of Morgan City, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of filing a false tax return. The defendant was also sentenced to one year of supervised release and was ordered to pay $69,167 in restitution. According to the May 23, 2018 guilty plea, Ho engaged in stock transactions and made $251,196 in 2012, but when he filed his taxes, he reported $14,742 as his income. As a result, he paid no income tax that year, which resulted in a loss of $69,167 to the U.S. Treasury.

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

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that an illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced Thursday to seven months in prison for re-entering the United States after having been previously removed on three occasions.

Alberto Rodriguez-Perez, 40, of Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. According to the May 4, 2018 guilty plea, a deportation officer encountered Rodriguez-Perez while at the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center. The officer later discovered that Rodriguez-Perez was illegally in the United States having been previously deported in 2004, 2010 and 2013.

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Breaux Bridge man pleaded guilty Thursday to possessing stolen mail from Lafayette and St. Martin parish addresses.

Kyle Joseph Collette, 35, of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of possession of stolen mail. According to the guilty plea, the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office was contacted on February 19, 2016 about an unrelated matter and learned about items being kept at a Lafayette storage unit. They searched the unit the next day with assistance of the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and found numerous items, some of which had been reported stolen, and several articles of mail belonging to St. Martin Parish addresses. St. Martin Parish authorities then learned of a room at a Lafayette motel where additional items were being kept. Law enforcement agents searched the motel room and found additional stolen items including mail from Lafayette and St. Martin parish addresses.  The investigation confirmed that the mail had been removed from mailboxes in Lafayette Parish and St. Martin Parish.

Collette faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for January 2, 2019.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo is prosecuting the case.

MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. sentenced three felons Wednesday on various firearms related charges who were prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhood program.

Mississippi felon sentenced to 96 months in prison for possessing rifle in car after Delhi traffic stop

Terrance Deon Jordan, 35, of Terry, Mississippi, was sentenced to eight years in prison on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the April 25, 2018 guilty plea, a Louisiana State Police trooper pulled over Jordan’s vehicle on June 2, 2017 in Dehli, Louisiana, for driving 104 miles per hour in a 70-mile-an-hour zone. The trooper saw a rifle with a shortened stock in the driver’s seat next to Jordan’s right leg when he approached the vehicle. The firearm was later identified as a Norinco .223-caliber rifle. Ammunition was also found. Jordan is a felon who was convicted in Mississippi on multiple charges. The ATF and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Crawford prosecuted the case.

Monroe felon sentenced to 78 months in prison for possessing pistol

Daryl Nelson, 47, of Monroe, was sentenced to six and one-half years in prison on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the May 3, 2018 guilty plea, Monroe police executed a search warrant on March 28, 2017, and found Nelson alone in bed with a loaded Ruger, Model P85, 9 mm pistol. The firearm belonged to Nelson, and he has been convicted of multiple felonies. During the same search, officers found a loaded Glock, model 26, 9 mm pistol that belonged to codefendant Santron Jones, 33, of Monroe. Jones has been previously convicted of two drug felonies and is not allowed to possess a handgun. Jones pleaded guilty February 15, 2018, to the firearms count and was sentenced to 70 months in prison and three years of supervised release on June 13, 2018. The ATF and Monroe Metro Narcotics conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case.

Grayson man sentenced to 36 months in prison for illegally making, selling silencers

Dustin B. Demoss, 32, of Grayson, Louisiana, was sentenced to three years in prison by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of illegally selling and manufacturing firearm silencers. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the September 7, 2016 guilty plea, the ATF conducted a controlled purchase of three firearm silencers in May 2016 from a target who later identified Demoss as the manufacturer of the silencers. Demoss sold the silencers from a Facebook site called “Angel of Death Tactical,” which was not licensed under federal law. A search was conducted at Demoss’ residence on May 19, 2016.  Several firearms were seized with silencers attached, as well as assorted silencer parts with drilled baffles and end caps, other assorted parts for making silencers, and boxes of parts showing mailing information that they were imported from India. Demoss also had drill presses used to complete the manufacture of silencers. The ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Crawford prosecuted the case.

These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a federal jury found an Abbeville man guilty Wednesday of shipping marijuana to himself.

Jabori Huntsberry, 36, of Abbeville, Louisiana, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, one count of unlawful use of a communication facility, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote presided over the trial, which started Monday and ended Wednesday. The jury returned a guilty verdict after deliberating for approximately one hour and 45 minutes.

Evidence admitted at trial revealed that the defendant conspired to receive packages of marijuana from a California source using U.S. mail from October 2011 to February 2014. United States Postal Inspectors discovered that, at multiple times and using different addresses and names, Huntsberry shipped  marijuana to himself. He had money transferred to a California contact before each package was sent. Law enforcement agents conducted a controlled delivery of one of the packages on February 14, 2014, to a residence next to Huntsberry’s home in Abbeville. After an occupant took the package, agents searched both homes. A search of Huntsberry’s home produced a notebook documenting drug activity, U.S. Postal Service mail labels, money transfer receipts, a Ruger model P-89, 9 mm semiautomatic pistol, and a Romarm Model CUGIR, 7.62X39 semiautomatic rifle.

The defendant shipped approximately 200 kilograms of marijuana to himself and electronically transferred nearly $300,000 to the source in California during the conspiracy.

The defendant faces 10 years to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a $10 million fine. Sentencing has been set for December 6, 2018.

The ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamilla A. Bynog and John Luke Walker are prosecuting the case.

LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that an illegal alien from Mexico pleaded guilty Tuesday to re-entering the United States after being deported for the fifth time.

Alfredo Sanchez-Hernandez, 39, of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay on one count of illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. According to the guilty plea, Sanchez-Hernandez was found in Calcasieu Parish on March 5, 2018 to be illegally in the United States. After further investigation, law enforcement agents discovered that Sanchez-Hernandez had been previously removed from the United States on four occasions with the most recent being on February 15, 2010 near San Ysidro, California. The defendant was convicted in California in May of 2000 for possession of heroin and was not allowed to re-enter the United States.

Sanchez-Hernandez faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Forrest Phillips is prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a felon from New Iberia pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm purchased at a Lafayette sporting goods store that he later displayed in a music video.

Jaymie Williams, 22, of New Iberia, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Foote. According to the guilty plea, Williams was present when a Century Arms, Model RAS47 firearm was purchased on March 11, 2018 at a sporting goods store in Lafayette. Williams later featured the firearm in one of his music videos entitled “BG Flow.” In the video, Williams handled the firearm in many scenes. He also possessed the firearm on April 18, 2017 when he entered a Lafayette gun shop. Williams also was previously convicted of a felony in 2017 that prohibited him from possessing a firearm.

Williams faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set the sentencing date for November 16, 2018.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

The ATF and Lafayette Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti is prosecuting the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – A senior leader of the Aryan Circle (AC) and a subordinate gang member pleaded guilty today and yesterday to being an accessory-after-the-fact to racketeering murder, announced U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph of the Western District of Louisiana and Assistant Attorney General Bryan A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

David Wayne Williams, 38, of Sulphur, Louisiana, a senior leader in the gang, and Leland Hamm, 43, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to being accessories-after-the-fact in the violent crimes in aid of racketeering murder of Clifton Hallmark, 51, before U.S. District Court Judge Dee D. Drell in the Western District of Louisiana.  Williams also pleaded guilty to narcotics trafficking and weapons possession.

On July 25, Richard Alan Smith, 47, of Little Rock, Arkansas, also pleaded guilty to the accessory-after-the-fact charge in the racketeering murder of Clifton Hallmark.    

According to the plea agreements of the defendants, the AC is a powerful race-based, multi-state organization that operates inside and outside of state and federal prisons throughout Texas, Louisiana, and the United States.  The AC was established in the mid-1980s within the Texas prison system.  Recently, the AC’s structure and influence expanded to rural and suburban areas throughout Texas, Louisiana, and Missouri.  The AC emerged as an independent organization during a period of turmoil within the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas.  The AC was relatively small in comparison to other prison-based gangs, but grew in stature and influence in the 1990s, largely through violent conflict with other gangs. 

The plea agreements further state that the AC enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, assault, robbery and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the organization.  Members, and oftentimes associates, are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members without question.

By pleading guilty to the accessory charge, Williams, Hamm, and Smith admitted to being members of the AC criminal enterprise.  Williams admitted to being a senior leader of the gang.

Sentencing for Williams and Hamm has been scheduled for Nov. 20 and Dec. 13, respectively, before Judge Dee D. Drell.  Sentencing for Smith has been scheduled for November 20.

This case is being investigated by an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Prisons; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Louisiana State Police; Evangeline Parish, (Louisiana) Sheriff’s Office; Evangeline Parish District Attorney’s Office; Texas Department of Public Safety; Houston Police Department-Gang Division; Texas Department of Criminal Justice; New Jersey State Prison; Montgomery County (Texas) Precinct 1 Constable’s Office; Indiana State Police; Indiana Department of Corrections; the Carrollton (Texas) Police Department; Waller (Texas) Police Department; Montgomery County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office; Travis County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office and the Tarrant County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti of the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney David Karpel of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.

A senior leader of the Aryan Circle (AC) and a subordinate gang member pleaded guilty today and yesterday to being an accessory-after-the-fact to racketeering murder, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph of the Western District of Louisiana.

David Wayne Williams, 38, of Sulphur, Louisiana, a senior leader in the gang, and Leland Hamm, 43, of Tulsa, Oklahoma pleaded guilty to being accessories-after-the-fact in the violent crimes in aid of racketeering murder of Clifton Hallmark, 51, before U.S. District Court Judge Dee D. Drell in the Western District of Louisiana.  Williams also pleaded guilty to narcotics trafficking and weapons possession.

On July 25, Richard Alan Smith, 47, of Little Rock, Arkansas, also pleaded guilty to the accessory-after-the-fact charge in the racketeering murder of Clifton Hallmark.    

According to the plea agreements of the defendants, the AC is a powerful race-based, multi-state organization that operates inside and outside of state and federal prisons throughout Texas, Louisiana, and the United States.  The AC was established in the mid-1980s within the Texas prison system (TDCJ).  Recently, the AC’s structure and influence expanded to rural and suburban areas throughout Texas, Louisiana, and Missouri.  The AC emerged as an independent organization during a period of turmoil within the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT).  The AC was relatively small in comparison to other prison-based gangs, but grew in stature and influence within TDCJ in the 1990s, largely through violent conflict with other gangs, white and non-white alike. 

The plea agreements further state that the AC enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, assault, robbery and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the organization.  Members, and oftentimes, associates, are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members without question.

By pleading guilty to the accessory charge, Williams, Hamm, and Smith admitted to being members of the AC criminal enterprise.  Williams admitted to being a senior leader of the gang.

Sentencing for Williams and Hamm has been scheduled for Nov. 20 and Dec. 13, respectively, before Judge Dee D. Drell.  Sentencing for Smith has been scheduled for Nov. 20.

This case is being investigated by an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Prisons; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Louisiana State Police; Evangeline Parish, (LA) Sheriff’s Office; Evangeline Parish District Attorney’s Office; Texas Department of Public Safety; Houston Police Department-Gang Division; Texas Department of Criminal Justice; New Jersey State Prison; Montgomery County (TX) Precinct 1 Constable’s Office; Indiana State Police; Indiana Department of Corrections; the Carrollton (TX) Police Department; Waller (TX) Police Department; Montgomery County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; Travis County (TX) Sheriff’s Office and the Tarrant County (TX) Sheriff’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney David Karpel of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti of the Western District of Louisiana.

 

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a felon from Many pleaded guilty Monday to possessing four firearms after an assault and police standoff at a barbershop.

Willie D. Carhee, 55, of Many, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the guilty plea, police responded to a 911 call of a domestic assault that occurred at a barbershop in Many on April 27, 2017. After the assault, Carhee, the assailant, ran inside the barbershop where he worked and refused to leave. The victim told the police dispatcher that Carhee had a firearm at the barbershop as well as firearms at his home. Law enforcement set up a perimeter and called SWAT. A Many Police officer found and seized a loaded Hi-Point Firearms .45 caliber pistol in plain view in Carhee’s car, which was parked in front of the barbershop. After SWAT threw a telephone through the window of the barbershop, Carhee surrendered to authorities. A search of the barbershop yielded approximately 190 grams of marijuana and a scale. Police searched Carhee’s home and found a Marlin, Glenfield model 70, .22 caliber rifle; a Remington, model: 770, .308 caliber rifle; a Remington, model: 710, .30-06 caliber rifle; and several marijuana plants in the backyard. Carhee has at least six felony convictions, which are: possession of a Schedule II drug in the 10th Judicial District, Natchitoches Parish, on March 12, 2012; possession/introduction of contraband into a penal institution on July 10, 2008; manufacturing of a Schedule I drug and illegal carrying of a weapon in Sabine Parish, Louisiana, on September 14, 2006; unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in the 294th Judicial District, Dallas, Texas; and reckless injury to a child in Dallas, Texas. Being a felon, Carhee is not allowed to possess a firearm.

Carhee faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of November 29, 2018.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

The ATF and Many Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike O’Mara is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that a Shreveport felon was sentenced to 57 months in prison for possessing a .45-caliber pistol that he discarded while fleeing from police officers.

David Christopher Green, 22, of Shreveport, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of felon in possession of a firearm. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the March 8, 2018 guilty plea, Shreveport Police officers, who were patrolling the Clanton Street area June 21, 2017 in response to complaints of crimes and narcotics sales, observed Green and another individual standing in the roadway. After the patrol car stopped, the unnamed individual began approaching. The officers commanded the individual to stop, but instead, he and Green fled. Officers pursued and saw Green pick up an ice chest bag. Green tossed the bag in the corner of a fence as he fled and then went inside a Clanton home. They searched the home and found Green hiding behind a chair in a back room. The officers located the ice chest bag, which contained three large baggies of marijuana (approximately 82.9 grams); two large bottles of codeine syrup (approximately 840 milliliters ); a .45-caliber, Kimber semi-automatic handgun; and ammunition. Green has prior felonies, including a prior conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/MONROE/ALEXANDRIA/LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph voiced support today for a U.S. Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proposal to reduce the quantity of opioids being manufactured in the United States.

“One of my priorities as U.S. Attorney is to fight opioid trafficking and abuse in Louisiana,” Joseph stated. “Opioid abuse leads to crime, violence, and death.  We have already increased our efforts to prosecute those who illegally traffic in opioids in and through the Western District of Louisiana.  The DEA’s action in reducing the quantity of these drugs being manufactured will further our efforts to reduce opioid abuse in our communities.”

Consistent with President Trump’s “Safe Prescribing Plan” that seeks to “cut nationwide opioid prescription fills by one-third within three years,” the proposal decreases manufacturing quotas for the most six frequently misused opioids for 2019 by an average ten percent as compared to the 2018 amount. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) marks the third straight year of proposed reductions, which help reduce the amount of drugs potentially diverted for trafficking and used to facilitate addiction.

On July 11, 2018, the Justice Department announced that DEA was issuing a final rule amending its regulations to improve the agency’s ability consider the likelihood of whether a drug can be diverted for abuse when it sets annual opioid production limits. The final rule also promotes greater involvement from state attorneys general, and today’s proposed reduction will be sent to those offices.

In setting the aggregate production quote (APQ), DEA considers data from many sources, including estimates of the legitimate medical need from the Food and Drug Administration; estimates of retail consumption based on prescriptions dispensed; manufacturers’ disposition history and forecasts; data from DEA’s own internal system for tracking controlled substance transactions; and past quota histories.

Ultimately, revised limits will encourage vigilance on the part of opioid manufacturers, help DEA respond to the changing drug threat environment, and protect the American people from potential addictive drugs while ensuring that the country has enough opioids for legitimate medical, scientific, research, and industrial needs.

"The opioid epidemic that we are facing today is the worst drug crisis in American history," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. "President Trump has set the ambitious goal of reducing opioid prescription rates by one-third in three years. We embrace that goal and are resolutely committed to reaching it. According to the National Prescription Audit, we have already made significant progress in reducing prescription rates over the past year. Cutting opioid production quotas by an average of ten percent next year will help us continue that progress and make it harder to divert these drugs for abuse. The American people can be confident that federal law enforcement and the Trump administration are taking action to protect them from dangerous drugs.  These smarter limits bring us one big step closer to President Trump's goal of finally ending this unprecedented crisis. I congratulate Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon and his team for taking action.”

“We’ve lost too many lives to the opioid epidemic and families and communities suffer tragic consequences every day,” said DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. “This significant drop in prescriptions by doctors and DEA’s production quota adjustment will continue to reduce the amount of drugs available for illicit diversion and abuse while ensuring that patients will continue to have access to proper medicine.”

Once the aggregate quota is set, DEA allocates individual manufacturing and procurement quotas to those manufacturers that apply for them. DEA may revise a company’s quota at any time during the year if change is warranted because of increased or decreased sales or exports, new manufacturers entering the market, new product development, or product recalls.

When Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act, the quota system was intended to reduce or eliminate diversion from “legitimate channels of trade” by controlling the quantities of the basic ingredients needed for the manufacture of controlled substances.

The Proposed Aggregate Production Quotas for schedule I and II controlled substances published in the Federal Register reflects the total amount of controlled substances necessary to meet the country’s medical, scientific, research, industrial, and export needs for the year and for the establishment and maintenance of reserve stocks. DEA establishes an APQ for more than 250 schedule I and II controlled substances annually.

In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines to practitioners recommending a reduction in the prescribing of opioid medications for chronic pain. DEA and its federal partners have increased efforts in the last several years to educate practitioners, pharmacists, manufacturers, distributors, and the public about the dangers associated with the misuse of opioid medications and the importance of proper prescribing.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Shreveport man pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle while intoxicated onto Barksdale Air Force Base, damaging property and fleeing authorities.

Michael Taylor Phillips, 26, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to one count of damage to property of the United States; one count of driving while intoxicated, second offense; and one count of resisting arrest. According to the guilty plea, Phillips drove his vehicle into the North Gate of Barksdale Air Force Base and struck a steel bollard in the gate’s secured area. The impact damaged the bollard, and Phillips’ vehicle continued onto the airbase before it came to a stop at the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command Headquarters building. Phillips exited the vehicle and ran into a base residential area. He was later apprehended and detained.

Phillips faces up to 10 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, restitution and a $250,000 fine. The court set a November 29, 2018 sentencing date.

The FBI and U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John Odom are prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Shreveport felon was sentenced Wednesday to 100 months in prison for illegal possession of a pistol.

Jamario Montreal Harris, 26, of Shreveport, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement agents found Harris in possession of a .40 caliber Glock pistol on March 20, 2017. He was previously convicted of a felony and is not allowed to possess a firearm.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tennille M. Gilreath and Mike O’Mara prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Lafayette man was sentenced Monday to 151 months in prison for conspiring to distribute multiple quantities of narcotics and illegal possessing a 9 mm handgun.

Jacob Glen Collett, 35, of Lafayette, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to the April 19, 2018 guilty plea, Collett was arrested during an ongoing narcotics investigation in Lafayette and Jeff Davis parishes that took place from April 2017 to August 2017. Law enforcement agents found Collett in possession of 705.2 grams of methamphetamine, 222 dosage units of LSD, 56 tablets containing fentanyl, 4.01 grams of MDMA, 38.9 grams of heroin, 16.5 grams of cocaine, 52.3 grams of a mixture and substance containing THC, a Berretta 9 mm model 92FS handgun, and 16 rounds of ammunition.

The DEA, ATF, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Department, Lafayette Police Department, Lafayette Metro Narcotics Task Force, Calcasieu Combined Anti-Drug Task Force and Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Youngsville woman was sentenced Tuesday to two years and nine months in prison for stealing nearly $200,000 while working as business manager at a local breast cancer center and to filing false income tax returns.

Sarah J. Broussard, 48, of Youngsville, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of wire fraud and one count of making and subscribing a false income tax return. She was also sentenced to three years of supervised release, ordered to pay $197,227 to the breast cancer center and ordered to pay $48,838 to the IRS. According to the April 4, 2018 guilty plea, Broussard embezzled from the breast cancer center while working there as the business manager beginning in late 2009 and continuing through November 2014. She also did not report the stolen money as income on her income taxes returns for tax years 2010 to 2014.

The IRS - Criminal Investigative Division, U.S. Secret Service and Lafayette Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that an illegal alien from Honduras was sentenced to a total of 36 months in prison for re-entering the United States after being deported on two previous occasions and for violating an earlier term of supervised release.

Henry Ariel Canacas-Cortez, 26, also known as Henry Ariel Gonzales-Canacas, of Francisco Morazan, Talanga, Honduras, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to 24 months in prison on one count of illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. He was also sentenced to 12 months to run consecutively to the 24-month term for the revocation of his supervised release entered by the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. According to the May 4, 2018 guilty plea, Lafayette Sheriff’s deputies arrested Canacas-Cortez on March 1, 2018. He admitted to providing a false name to officers when arrested and later admitted to illegally re-entering the United States on two prior occasions. He was arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2015 for attempted distribution of controlled substances and was deported on August 12, 2015. He was found to be in the United States a second time, and he was removed on July 14, 2017. He illegally entered the United States a third time on December 16, 2017 prior to his arrest. 

Homeland Security Investigations and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo prosecuted the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Lafayette man pleaded guilty Thursday to possessing a stolen pistol he had purchased on the street.

Paul Sidney Breaux, 37, of Lafayette, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of possession of a stolen firearm. According to the guilty plea, Lafayette police arrested Breaux on May 1, 2018. At the time of his arrest, he possessed a Springfield Armory Model 1911 pistol and was aware it was stolen. He told officers he had purchased the firearm five days earlier on the street from some younger males.

Breaux faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set the sentencing date for October 31, 2018.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

The ATF and the Lafayette Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti is prosecuting the case.