Western District of Louisiana

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Pollock prisoner pleaded guilty to possessing an improvised knife.

Torrey Griffin, 27, a Pollock prisoner, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of possessing contraband in a prison. According to the guilty plea, Griffin was searched on July 30, 2017. A prison guard discovered that Griffin could not clear the metal detector and during a pat down, the guard removed a knife from Griffin’s pants. The knife was approximately six and a half inches long and made of metal sharpened on one end.

Griffin faces up to five years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for April 27, 2018.

The FBI and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons-Special Investigative Services conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo is prosecuting the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Chairman Joey Barbry pleaded guilty Wednesday to illegally taking more than $83,000 from the tribe’s check cashing business.

Barbry, 40, of Mansura, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of theft from an Indian tribal organization. According to the guilty plea, Barbry cashed 105 non-sufficient fund (NSF) checks totaling $83,510 from July 2014 to November 2014 with the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana.  Barbry made the checks out to the Tunica Biloxi Financial Services (TBFS), which is an organization the tribe owns that functions as a check cashing business for the tribal casino.  Normal operation of the TBFS for NSF checks would require that the person writing NSF checks be placed into a computer tracking system and would be barred from writing further checks.  The violator would also be turned over to the Avoyelles Parish District Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution if the money was not repaid.  TBFS manager Brent Barbre told employees not to input Barbry into the tracking system, and that he would handle the chairman’s NSF checks personally.  Brent Barbre allowed the defendant to continue writing NSF checks because he was the chairman of the tribe and Brent Barbre’s supervisor.

Barbry faces five years in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution and a $250,000 fine.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph is prosecuting the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Scott tax preparer was sentenced last week to 18 months in prison for falsifying tax returns and causing the IRS to pay out more than $105,000.

Vida Prejean Thomas, 44, of Scott, La., was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false documents under Internal Revenue laws. She was also sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to pay $105,813 restitution. According to the October 10, 2017 guilty plea, the IRS began investigating Thomas’ tax preparation business after receiving a tip alleging fraudulent activity. They interviewed nine of her customers and found that 2010 through 2013 personal income tax returns contained false information put there without their knowledge or authorization. The false returns Thomas prepared caused a loss of $105,813 to the IRS.

The IRS conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph prosecuted the case.

MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Monroe city postal carrier assistant pleaded guilty to taking parcels containing prescription drugs.

Bryan C. Massey, 31, of Oak Ridge, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Hayes to one count of theft of mail matter by a postal service employee. The plea will become final after it is accepted by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement agents learned that Veterans Affairs (VA) parcels containing prescription drugs were reported missing at the Main Post Office in Monroe. Agents narrowed down where the thefts were taking place and set up cameras. They recorded Massey, who worked as a city carrier assistant, taking the drug parcels and attempting to conceal his thefts by hiding the drug parcels among others he was carrying. When questioned, Massey admitted to taking at least 11 VA parcels from November 2016 to June 2017. Agents also searched his vehicle and found three pill bottles in the front right pocket of Massey’s postal uniform jacket. Each pill bottle contained an assorted number of white pills, which Massey had stolen from the VA parcels.

Massey faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of April 24, 2018.

The U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick is prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Mexican national was sentenced last week to 24 months in prison for reentering the United States illegally for the third time.

Isais Hernandez-Vasquez, 33, of Mexico, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of reentry by a removed alien without permission. According to the September 7, 2017 guilty plea, Hernandez-Vasquez was arrested on July 17, 2014 in St. Martin Parish. He pleaded guilty and was convicted on June 2, 2017 of attempted possession of methamphetamine. Agents later encountered him and discovered that he had been previously removed from the United States. He was removed on August 27, 2009 and April 3, 2014 after criminal convictions. He was not authorized to return to the United States.

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti prosecuted the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Tullos man pleaded guilty Thursday to possessing a homemade silencer that he had not registered.

Joshua Womack, 33, of Tullos, La., pleaded guilty before Chief District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement agents received information that Womack possessed a rifle with a silencer on December 15, 2015. Agents later questioned Womack, and he admitted to owning a Marlin, .22 caliber rifle. He told agents that he did not own a firearm silencer but had possessed one that was attached to the rifle. The silencer was not registered in the National Firearms and Registration and Transfer Record.

Womack faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $10,000 fine. He also faces forfeiture of the weapons seized. The court set sentencing for April 6, 2018.

This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.

The ATF and Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Lafayette woman pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing almost $1.5 million from a Broussard oilfield related company.

Susan M. Benoit, 54, of Lafayette, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna to two counts of wire fraud. The plea will become final after it is accepted by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell. According to the guilty plea, Benoit worked for a Broussard, La., oilfield related company from 1998 to 2016. As the accountant and later as Chief Financial Officer, Benoit had access to the company’s bank accounts and transferred $1,490,588.70 from company accounts to her personal bank account.

Benoit faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution, forfeiture and a $250,000 fine. The court set April 10, 2018 as the sentencing date.

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

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a former U.S. Postal employee from Pitkin pleaded guilty Thursday to burning U.S. mail.

Mark Wayne Thompson, 50, of Pitkin, La. pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of use of delay or destruction of mail by a postal employee. According to the guilty plea, Thompson took mail from his rural postal route in Elmer, La., to his residence from December 1, 2016 to May 1, 2017 where he burned it. He estimated that he burned at least 20 tubs of mail.

Thompson faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set an April 6, 2018 sentencing date.

The U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys T. Forrest Phillips is prosecuting the case.

LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Lake Charles woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing more than $71,000 of her deceased father’s Social Security benefits.

Heather Vincent, 43, of Lake Charles, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay to one count of theft of government funds. According to the guilty plea, Vincent’s father died on February 1, 2014. From that time until February 28, 2017, Vincent did not notify Social Security that her father was deceased, and she received and spent $71,463 in benefits as they were deposited into his bank account.

Vincent faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set an April 17, 2018 sentencing date.

The Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Forrest Phillips is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Freeport, Texas, man was sentenced last week to 88 months in prison for transporting a minor to Shreveport to engage in prostitution.

Jacob Cuellar, 27, of Freeport, Texas, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of illegal transportation of an individual to engage in prostitution.  He was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.  According to the guilty pleas, Cuellar and co-defendants Quince Aluiso, 20, and Shawn Aluiso, 28, both of Clute, Texas, transported a minor to Shreveport on October 6, 2015 to engage in prostitution. Law enforcement agents responded to an online advertisement the same day in an undercover capacity.  The defendants were later arrested at a Shreveport hotel.

Shawn and Quince Aluiso pleaded guilty to illegal transportation on March 16, 2017.  Shawn Aluiso was sentenced on July 24, 2017 to 100 months in prison and five years of supervised release.  Quince Aluiso was sentenced on September 18, 2017 to 22 months in prison and five years of supervised release.  They are both required to register as sex offenders.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Shreveport man was sentenced last week to 63 months in prison for possessing a sawed-off shotgun hidden behind a wall.

Dylan G. Fausto, 25, of Shreveport, La., was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote 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 September 14, 2017 guilty plea, law enforcement agents searched Fausto’s residence on January 2, 2017 while executing a search warrant for another individual. During the search, they found a sheetrock panel leaning against a wall in the master bedroom closet. Behind the panel, agents could see the end of a shotgun and discovered it was a loaded sawed-off 12-gauge Mossberg pump shotgun. Fausto was previously convicted of a felony and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.

The ATF, U.S. Marshals Service and Bossier City Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany E. Fields prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Shreveport man who was previously convicted last week of a felony pleaded guilty to possessing three handguns he tried to hide near the U.S. court house.

Deantre D. Caldwell, 30, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty Friday before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the guilty plea, Caldwell was traveling in the front passenger seat of a car that was rear-ended on April 24, 2017 near the intersection of Caddo and Market streets. The two drivers and Caldwell exited the vehicle. Caldwell had one of the drivers retrieve a backpack containing firearms from the front seat of the car he was traveling in, and he hid it in bushes outside of the Tom Stagg Federal Building and U.S. Court House. When officers arrived, a guard on duty at the federal court house informed the officers that he had seen Caldwell move the backpack. Officers found the bag, and it contained a Diamondback, model: DB-15, multi-caliber pistol; a Glock, model: 27GEN4, .40 caliber pistol; and a Glock, model 30GEN4, .45 auto caliber pistol. The drivers said the backpack belonged to Caldwell. The defendant was convicted of illegal use of a weapon on February 21, 2007 in Caddo Parish and was restricted from possessing firearms.

Caldwell faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of April 27, 2018.

This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.

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 Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a man from Maurice pleaded guilty last week to shipping methamphetamine to Louisiana.

Eric Perrin, 36, of Maurice, La., pleaded guilty Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carol Whitehurst to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell. According to the guilty plea, Perrin previously lived in Arizona where he met other individuals who used the drug. He later used his Arizona connections to have methamphetamine packaged and delivered to him in Louisiana. Perrin scheduled a packaged delivery of drugs to his home on August 12, 2013. Law enforcement agents intercepted the package, made a controlled delivery and arrested Perrin. Law enforcement agents found approximately 260 grams of methamphetamine in the package.

Perrin faces five to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a $5 million fine. The court set sentencing for April 6, 2018.

The Homeland Security Investigations, Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office and Lafayette Metro Narcotics conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moore is prosecuting the case.

MONROE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that two Monroe women were sentenced Monday for a scheme to issue new titles for stolen automobiles.

Ashley Owens, 31, of Monroe, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to 76 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and three years’ supervised release.  Felicia Simpson, 40, of Monroe, La., was sentenced to five years’ probation on one count of misprision of felony, and Quinetta Grant, 45, of Suwanee, Ga., will be sentenced at a later date.  According to the guilty pleas, from November 2014 to June 2015, the defendants illegally provided new titles to customers who possessed stolen automobiles.  Owens would receive the titles from Grant and then deliver them to Simpson who worked for a private title processing business in Monroe.  Altogether, 104 fraudulent titles were processed involving high-end late model luxury vehicles including Mercedes, BMW, Bentley and Lamborghini.

The FBI, Louisiana State Police, Miami Dade Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia and the Monroe Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Texas man was sentenced last week to 240 months in prison for conspiring to transport methamphetamine and cocaine.

Erasmo Aviles Jr., 35, of Spring, Texas, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Evidence was admitted at a three-day trial in August of 2017, that on May 12, 2016, Aviles was traveling east on Interstate 20 in Bossier Parish in one car that was traveling in tandem with another vehicle driven by co-defendant Francisco Guardiola, 25, of Spring, Texas. Louisiana State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicles. Aviles denied any wrongdoing and a search of his vehicle produced a camouflaged two-way radio set to channel two. The vehicle Guardiola was driving was searched. Troopers found 1,048 grams of methamphetamine and 361.8 grams of powder cocaine. They also found a camouflaged two-way radio of the same type found in Aviles’ vehicle that was also set to channel two.

Guardiola pleaded guilty on March 15, 2017, to all three counts and was sentenced on September 5, 2017 to 121 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

The DEA and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison D. Bushnell and Tennille M. Gilreath prosecuted the case.

MONROE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a man from Mexico pleaded guilty to being an illegal alien in possession of a rifle.

Gerardo C. Rodriguez, 53, of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Hayes to one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. According to the guilty plea, Union Parish Sheriff’s deputies responded to a disturbing-the-peace call on December 11, 2016 in Bernice, La. The deputies found Rodriguez intoxicated, arrested him and towed his vehicle. Deputies noticed a gunshot wound in his leg. Rodriguez told deputies in an interview the next day that he had shot himself with a .22 caliber pistol while drinking heavily. He also told deputies that he owned the Savage rifle (Model 110E in .270 caliber), which was seized from his vehicle. He admitted to reentering the United States illegally and possessing the rifle as a convicted felon. Rodriguez was removed to Mexico on December 21, 2004 as an aggravated felon.

Rodriguez faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for April 11, 2017.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike O’Mara is prosecuting the case.

MONROE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Bastrop farmer was sentenced to 108 months in prison for creating shell farms so he could receive more than $5.4 million in subsidy payments to which he was not entitled.

Brad A. McIntyre, 35, of Bastrop, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, five counts of mail fraud and four counts of money laundering related to engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.  He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $4.3 million in restitution to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency. The court also ordered him to pay a $1.6 million money judgement of forfeiture. McIntyre was previously found guilty by a federal jury at a trial, which started July 10 and ended July 21, 2017.

Evidence admitted at trial revealed that McIntyre, a fourth generation farmer and the owner of Delta Agriculture and Company, sought to avoid the Farm Service Agency direct program payment limitation of $40,000 per year per farm entity member.  From August 2009 until February 2013, McIntyre conspired to create fictitious farm operations. When applying for FSA’s direct program payments, McIntyre listed the names of his relatives and employees as the owners of these entities when in fact he controlled and managed all of these farming entities.  The Farm Service Agency’s Supplemental Revenue Assistant (SURE) and Crop Assistance Program (CAP) payments were each limited to $100,000 per person who experienced a qualifying crop loss because of disaster. These fake farms also fraudulently received disaster program payments from FSA.

When the FSA mailed agricultural subsidy checks to the entities, they went to U.S. Post Office boxes in Mer Rouge, La., established and controlled by McIntyre. He unlawfully received more than $5.4 million during the course of the scheme.

“I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s office, OIG special agents and our investigative partners for their hard work on this investigation,” USDA Office of Inspector General Special Agent-in-Charge Dax Roberson stated. “When the integrity of USDA’s farming programs is violated by criminal conduct, the Office of Inspector General will pursue justice to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Brad McIntyre was sentenced today for his scheme to defraud the U.S. farm subsidy program and for his associated money laundering violations,” Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Ted A. Magee, IRS Criminal Investigation, stated. “He was held accountable for his fraud and the spending of his ill-gotten gains.  IRS - Criminal Investigation special agents are experts in following the money, which ultimately demonstrates that monetary gain is often the reason for criminal activity.   I am especially proud of the work we do with our federal law enforcement partners and of our financial expertise that is utilized to make sense of complex schemes such as this one and helps put criminals like McIntyre in prison where they belong.”

The USDA-OIG and IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Cytheria D. Jernigan and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany E. Fields prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Shreveport man who was previously convicted of two felonies pleaded guilty to possessing a loaded revolver.

Kevin Anthony Dison Jr., 21, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the guilty plea, Shreveport Police officers stopped the vehicle Dison was driving on April 11, 2017. Police searched the vehicle and found a loaded Rossi revolver, model .38 caliber, which was located on the floorboard partially under the driver’s seat. The revolver could be seen by anyone driving the vehicle. Dison was previously convicted of felony theft in April 2015 in Caddo Parish and simple burglary in April 2016 in Bossier Parish.

Dison faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of March 23, 2018.

This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.

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

LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Honduran citizen was sentenced last week to 18 months in prison for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.

Franklin Reyes, 36, of Honduras, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by an alien illegally present in the United States. According to the September 1, 2017 guilty plea, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s officers responded to a report of shots fired on January 7, 2017 at a Lafayette apartment complex. After arriving, they heard a gunshot come from one of the apartments. Reyes opened the door of an apartment holding a .38 special revolver, which officers knocked from his hand as they arrested him. Officers found bullet holes in the walls and ceiling of the apartment and 11 expended ammunition casings scattered around the apartment. Reyes was previously removed in February of 2003, May of 2007, March of 2012, January of 2013 and December of 2013.

The ATF, Homeland Security Investigations and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel prosecuted the case.

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Fort Polk soldier with 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, La., was charged with producing, possessing and using a chemical weapon in violation of federal law.  According to the indictment, Taylor manufactured and detonated a chemical weapon on April 12, 2017 in the Kisatchie National Forest that resulted in the release of highly toxic chlorine gas into the atmosphere.

Taylor faces up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

The FBI and U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis E. Robinson are 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. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a former Homer Police officer was sentenced to 10 months in prison for his role in a vehicle fraud theft and insurance scheme.

Donald W. Malray, 52, of Homer, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of mail fraud conspiracy. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay $13,610.50 restitution and a $3,500 fine. According to the August 30, 2017 guilty plea, Malray and another individual planned a scheme to fake a vehicle and trailer theft, and then file an insurance claim to collect the money on the value of the property. On August 4, 2015, Malray and the other individual transferred the ATV and trailer to Malray’s possession after they met in Ruston, La. Malray then instructed the other individual to call the Homer Police Department and report the ATV and trailer stolen. The insurance company paid the individual in the conspiracy with Malray approximately $13,000 on September 8, 2015. Law enforcement agents recovered the ATV and trailer on January 31, 2017 in Ruston, La.

The DEA and the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Cowles Jr. prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that the co-owner of Explo Systems Inc. pleaded guilty to conspiracy and false statements concerning the storage of munitions at Camp Minden that led to an explosion.

Explo co-owner David Alan Smith, 62, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Horsnby to one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of making a false statement. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote.

Explo Systems Inc. is a private company whose primary business operations involved the demilitarization of military munitions and the subsequent resale of the recovered explosive materials for mining operations. According to the guilty plea, the U.S. Army awarded Explo a contract on March 24, 2010 to dispose of 450,000 155 mm artillery propelling charges designated as M119A2 for $2,902,500. The Army and Explo officials later amended the contract on March 6, 2012 to dispose of 1,350,000 charges for $8,617,500.  The contract required Explo to properly store and dispose of the demilitarized M6. The contract also required Explo to document the sale of the demilitarized M6 by completing an End User Certificate (EUC). On the EUC, the purchaser of the demilitarized M6 certified the purchase and compliance with applicable federal laws. Once the EUCs were certified, Explo submitted the EUCs to the Army.

On October 15, 2012, an explosion occurred at a munitions storage igloo on Camp Minden. The explosion contained approximately 124,190 pounds of smokeless powder and a box van trailer containing approximately 42,240 pounds of demilitarized M6. The damage destroyed the igloo and trailer, shattered windows of dwellings within a four-mile radius, and derailed 11 rail cars near the storage igloo.  

As part of the guilty plea, Smith agreed that he conspired with others to defraud the United States by impeding federal, state and local authorities from properly monitoring the operations at Explo’s Camp Minden facility.  Smith also agreed that he conspired with others to submit false end use certificates in order to obtain money to which he was not entitled.

Smith faces five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for each count.  As part of the plea agreement, Smith agreed that he owes restitution in the amount of $35,398,761.

The Environmental Protection Agency-Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation, Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service, FBI and the Louisiana State Police-Emergency Service Unit investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Shreveport felon pleaded guilty to possessing a revolver.

Christopher Deshun Owens, 28, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Hornsby to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. According to the guilty plea, Shreveport 911 operators received a call on August 10, 2017 from Owens’ ex-girlfriend. They heard the ex-girlfriend and Owens arguing about a firearm. Owens had entered the ex-girlfriend’s home with a firearm. Police later arrived and detained Owens. A Charter 2000, Shelton, Conn., Model: Undercover, Caliber .38 SPL revolver was recovered from a child’s dresser drawer in the house. Owens initially denied carrying the gun but later admitted to it. Owens was previously convicted in Bossier Parish for possession of marijuana, second offense.

Owens faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of March 27, 2018.

This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Benton man pleaded guilty Tuesday to taking out loans totaling $177,000 for three cars that didn’t exist.

Larry Wayne Toms Jr., 41, of Benton, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of bank fraud. According to the guilty plea, Toms, who is a car dealer in Bossier City, La., submitted fraudulent loan applications for the purchase of three cars from June 1, 2015 to July 23, 2015 to the Post Office Employees Federal Credit Union in Shreveport, and the credit union disbursed $177,000 to Toms. The three vehicles listed in loan applications did not exist.

Toms faces up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a $1 million fine. The court set a sentencing date of March 23, 2018.

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

LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Houston man was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison for possessing with intent to distribute cocaine after the drug was found in his car.

Isidro Badillo, 22, of Houston, Texas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to the July 11, 2017 guilty plea, Lake Charles police officers stopped Badillo’s vehicle August 8, 2016 on Interstate 10. Police officers searched the vehicle and found 9.282 kilograms of powder cocaine in the trunk. Badillo knew of the cocaine and said he was driving to an unspecified location outside of New Orleans for delivery and later distribution.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Lake Charles Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a man from California was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in prison for conspiring to transport methamphetamine.

Maquel L. Shelby, 37, of Hawthorne, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release.  According to the August 30, 2017 guilty plea, a Louisiana State trooper conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Durango Shelby was driving January 31, 2017 on Interstate 20 in Bossier Parish. Codefendant Bryanna Warren, 27, also of California, was riding in the car along with two children, ages 5 and 2. After being questioned, Shelby admitted there was a pistol in the vehicle’s glove compartment. As the trooper walked over to the vehicle to speak to Warren who was seated in the front passenger seat, she pulled out a loaded S&W .40 caliber pistol from a diaper bag and handed it to the trooper. She admitted to trying to hide the firearm after taking it from the glove compartment. The vehicle was also searched, and troopers found 2 pounds of methamphetamine in a backpack. After the arrest, Shelby admitted he had picked up the methamphetamine from Shreveport and was instructed to bring it to Monroe, La.

Warren pleaded guilty on May 25, 2017 to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and was sentenced on October 19, 2017 to five years in prison and three years of supervised release.

The DEA and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Cowles Jr. prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Mexican citizen was sentenced last week to 33 months in prison for reentering the United States illegally after being previously removed.

Marco Grijalva-Lopez, 34, of Mexico, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien. According to the August 9, 2017 guilty plea, Bossier City police arrested the defendant for shoplifting on April 14, 2017. After further investigation, law enforcement agents discovered that Grijalva-Lopez had two prior convictions for assault of a family member in Harris County, Texas.  He was removed on May 30, 2015 and banned for life from entering the United States.

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Bossier City Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Cowles Jr. prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a man from Mexico pleaded guilty to reentering the United States after being deported.

Tomas Tavera-Morales, 31, of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carol Whitehurst to one count of illegal reentry of a previously deported alien. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell. According to the guilty plea, the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office contacted Homeland Security Investigations on August 21, 2017 for assistance surveilling a possible illegal alien. Law enforcement agents later observed Tavera-Morales walking behind a residence near Third and Eastern avenues in Crowley. Agents contacted him, and he identified himself using a different name. After his arrest, he admitted that he lied about his name, and that he had been previously deported.

Tavera-Morales faces up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for March 18, 2018.

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

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Shreveport man was sentenced last week to 46 months in prison for stealing 44 firearms from a Princeton gun shop.

Ryan P. Hiroms, 26, of Shreveport, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of theft of a firearm from a federal firearms licensee. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $27,723.61 restitution. According to the August 7, 2017 guilty plea, law enforcement agents responded to a call on November 30, 2016 of a burglary at a gun shop in Princeton, La. Someone had broken into the building and stolen 44 firearms. Employees reported that two men had entered the business the day before and were looking at the firearms that were later stolen, and employees said the two men were also acting suspicious. A customer identified Hiroms as one of the two men who had entered the business. Agents also used video footage and fingerprints from one of the handguns Hiroms examined that day to identify him. Agents arrested Hiroms on December 2, 2016. They found a firearm in his vehicle that matched one that was stolen, and he was wearing attire similar to that seen in the business’s video footage. He later admitted to breaking into the gun shop and stealing the firearms.

The ATF needs help locating the remaining firearms stolen as well as other suspects in the case. If you have any information, call the ATF’s Shreveport Field Office at (318) 424-6850.

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

ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Ruston man was sentenced Thursday to 24 months in prison for cyberstalking a woman and posting nude pictures of her on various websites.

Wesley Ballew, 39, of Ruston, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of cyberstalking. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $7,500 restitution. According to the July 19, 2017 guilty plea, Ballew ended a relationship with a woman in 2009. He later posted nude pictures and identifying information of the woman to websites and social media sites. Ballew posted the pictures multiple times over the course of several years with the intent to harass and cause emotional distress. He also caused financial stress as the woman spent more than $7,500 in an attempt to remove the postings from online sites.

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

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a man from Minden pleaded guilty to possessing a revolver.

Jeremy Moro, 40, of Minden, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the guilty plea, the Minden Police Department arrested Moro while investigating a domestic abuse issue on September 8, 2016. After responding to the complaint, police found Moro laying on his couch with a Taurus Model: The Judge 45 caliber five shot revolver in the waistband of his pants. He was previously convicted of a felony for his role in a cross-burning in October 2008 in Louisiana.

Moro faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, forfeiture of the seized firearm and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of March 1, 2018.

This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.

The ATF, FBI, Webster Parish Coroner’s Office and Minden Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick is prosecuting the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Mexican citizen was sentenced to 46 months in prison for reentering the United States illegally.

Jose Luis Gamez-Verdugo, 49, of Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien. According to the August 8, 2017 guilty plea, Gamez-Verdugo was found on April 9, 2017 in Vermilion Parish. After further investigation, it was determined that he had been removed from the United States on five previous occasions. The most recent removal was on June 16, 2011 in Brownsville, Texas.

United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Forrest Phillips prosecuted the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Mexican citizen was sentenced to 15 months in prison for reentering the United States illegally for a fourth time.

David Acuna-Ontiveros, 31, of Nogolas, Sorora, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien. According to the July 28, 2017 guilty plea, Louisiana State Police arrested Acuna-Ontiveros on April 24, 2017 at the Morgan City Department of Motor Vehicles. The defendant was attempting to obtain a driver’s license using a stolen identity. Acuna-Ovtiveros was found with another person’s driver’s license, birth certificate and Social Security card. He admitted after the arrest that he was in the United States illegally and had paid money for the stolen identity. After further investigation, law enforcement agents found that the defendant had been removed in February of 2005 and March of 2006. He was also arrested in December of 2012 and removed in September of 2013 after serving time for a felony.

United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Mexican citizen was sentenced to 11 months in prison for reentering the United States illegally after being removed at least three times.

Juan Jose Mendoza-Ibarra, 38, of Mexico, was sentence by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien. According to the September 1, 2017 guilty plea, the defendant was found to be in Lafayette in July of 2017 after an arrest. He had previously been removed from the United States at least three times on March 11, 2016, August 5, 2016 and February 10, 2017.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti prosecuted the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a federal jury found a Clayton man guilty of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and firearms charges.

Robert L. Snyder, 41, of Clayton, La., was found guilty of one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of an unregistered firearm, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  United States District Judge Dee D. Drell presided over the trial. The defendant’s trial started Monday and ended Wednesday with the jury returning the guilty verdict after deliberating for about three hours.  Evidence admitted at trial revealed that law enforcement agents learned that illegal drugs were being sold out of a Clayton residence. After a search of Snyder’s home, police found more than 100 grams of methamphetamine along with numerous firearms, $1,600 in cash and $10,000 in money orders. Law enforcement revisited the property on March 4, 2014 and found more firearms in the home.  In total, law enforcement found 15 weapons and ammunition. Among the firearms was a .22 caliber rifle with the serial number removed.

Snyder faces 10 years to life in prison for the methamphetamine count, up to 10 years in prison for possession of an unregistered firearm, and up to 10 years in prison for each count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He also faces not less than five years of supervised release, a $10 million fine and forfeiture of items seized during the investigation.  The court set sentencing for March 6, 2018.

The U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, ATF and the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tennille M. Gilreath and Mary J. Mudrick are prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Krotz Springs man was sentenced Tuesday to 41 months in prison for possessing firearms and ammunition after being convicted of a felony.

Paul Joseph Viola, 46, of Krotz Springs, La., was sentenced by U.S.  District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and two counts of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. He was also sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.

Testimony and evidence at a three-day trial that ended on August 2, 2017 revealed that ATF agents received an anonymous call in October of 2015 reporting that Viola was a felon in possession of firearms. In an undercover operation conducted between October 31, 2015 and November 13, 2015, law enforcement agents obtained photographs of a Remington 1100 12 gauge shotgun, a .22 caliber Remington Speedmaster Model 552 semi-automatic rifle, and a .22 caliber Ruger model 10/22 semi-automatic rifle in Viola’s trailer in Krotz Springs. While the investigation was still ongoing, on November 28, 2015, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents found Viola hunting in the Sherburne Wildlife Management area in St. Martin Parish in possession of a loaded .35 caliber Whelen single shot rifle and five rounds of ammunition. On December 7, 2015, ATF agents searched Viola’s trailer in Krotz Springs where they found and seized 13,428 rounds of ammunition.  During his arrest on January 21, 2016 in Krotz Springs, law enforcement agents found 10 .22 caliber rounds of ammunition in a magazine for a Ruger 10/22 rifle, one round of Hornady .444 Marlin ammunition, three rounds of .243 Winchester ammunition and two rounds of .308 Winchester ammunition.

The ATF and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that the Lafayette Police Department has been awarded $1,249,999 in grant funding through the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) COPS Hiring Program (CHP).

Sessions today announced $98,495,397 in grants to 179 law enforcement agencies throughout the country for the COPS Hiring Program, which allows those agencies to hire 802 additional full-time law enforcement officers.

“Cities and states that cooperate with federal law enforcement make all of us safer by helping remove dangerous criminals from our communities,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “Today, the Justice Department announced that 80 percent of this year’s COPS Hiring Program grantees have agreed to cooperate with federal immigration authorities in their detention facilities. I applaud their commitment to the rule of law and to ending violent crime, including violent crime stemming from illegal immigration. I continue to encourage every jurisdiction in America to collaborate with federal law enforcement and help us make this country safer.”

“I want to be the first to congratulate the Lafayette Police Department on being awarded this grant,” Van Hook stated. “This will allow the department to add new officers to their ranks, which will only enhance the great work that they perform on a daily basis.”

CHP provides grant funding directly to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to support hiring additional law enforcement officers for three years to address specific crime problems through community policing strategies.

In September, the Justice Department announced additional priority consideration criteria for FY2017 COPS grants. Applicants were notified that their application would receive additional points in the application scoring process by certifying their willingness to cooperate with federal immigration authorities within their detention facilities. Cooperation may include providing access to detention facilities for an interview of aliens in the jurisdiction’s custody and providing advance notice of an alien’s release from custody upon request. One hundred and forty three of the 179 (80 percent) awarded agencies received additional points based on their certifications of willingness to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

The complete list of award recipients can be found here.

The COPS Office awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Shreveport mental health facility administrator was sentenced Tuesday to 26 months in prison for taking part in a kickback scheme.

Tom McCardell, 64, of Lafayette, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on 14 counts of paying illegal kickbacks. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $20,000 fine. McCardell was found guilty after a four-day trial that ended February 9, 2017.

According to the evidence presented at trial, McCardell operated a kickback scheme from July 2011 to November 2012 while he was administrator of Physicians Behavior Hospital (PBH) in Shreveport. He paid kickbacks to an Alabama resident, who had no medical training or background, to recruit and refer patients to PBH for psychiatric and substance abuse treatment. The hospital would then purchase bus tickets for the patients to travel to PBH in Shreveport. Many of the patients traveled unattended without escort. To avoid detection and suspicion, the defendant arranged for the kickbacks to be issued in the name of the patient recruiter’s son. The defendant also ordered PBH personnel to create an employee file in the name of the recruiter’s son in order to provide cover for the illegal kickback arrangement. During the scheme, McCardell caused the hospital to pay the recruiter’s son checks totaling $41,000 to which he was not entitled. As a result of the illegal kickback scheme, the hospital billed more than $6.7 million dollars to Medicare and was paid more than $1.2 million dollars. 

The Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General and the FBI investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Earl M. Campbell and Tennille M. Gilreath prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a man from Many was sentenced last week to 110 months in prison for possessing a shotgun that he also sold.

Frank Manning Jr., 37, of Many, La., was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote 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 August 1, 2017 guilty plea, Manning sold a Crescent Arms 20 gauge shotgun on May 25, 2016 for cash at a Many residence. Manning has prior felony convictions for drugs and domestic abuse battery in Desoto and Sabine parishes.

This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.

The ATF and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Cowles Jr. prosecuted the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Leesville man was sentenced last week to 40 months in prison for taking part in counterfeiting $100 bills in order to purchase prepaid cards.

Deldrick Shykil Fowler, 25, of Leesville, La., previously of DeQuincy, La., was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of counterfeiting obligations to the United States. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the August 10, 2017 guilty plea, Fowler helped another unnamed conspirator on December 27, 2016 use a genuine $100 bill to make 58 counterfeit copies. The conspirator then passed $1,500 worth of counterfeit bills at a DeRidder, La., department store in exchange for three prepaid debit cards. The conspirator discarded the unused counterfeit bills in a trashcan at a park. The counterfeit bills were later found and provided to law enforcement officers. The officers located Fowler the next day and discovered him with two of the three prepaid cards. He had already spent the third card.

The U.S. Secret Service, Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office and the DeRidder Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Church Point woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to methamphetamine and cocaine distribution in Acadia and Lafayette parishes and firearm possession.

Courtney Lynn Daigle, 41, of Church Point, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine and 5 kilograms of cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement agents identified Daigle as a supplier of methamphetamine while investigating drug distribution in Acadia and Lafayette parishes. Law enforcement executed a federal search warrant on February 3, 2017 at her residence in Church Point and a state search warrant at a related residence in Rayne, La.  As a result, law enforcement recovered, a Smith and Wesson SD9VE 9 mm handgun, 60 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, and approximately 679.1 grams of methamphetamine, 873.1 grams of cocaine, 12.9 grams of cocaine base, 589. 4 grams of marijuana, 82 dosage units of LSD, 116 dosage units of alprazolam, 1.5 dosage units of hydrocodone, one 10 milliliter vial of testosterone cypionate, and one 10 milliliter vial of testosterone enanthate. Officers also recovered $5,000, digital scales, vacuum bags/sealer and narcotics packaging.

Daigle faces 10 years to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a $10 million fine for the controlled substances count. She also faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for the firearms count. The court set sentencing for February 16, 2018.

The DEA, ATF, Louisiana State Police, Lafayette Metro Narcotics Task Force, Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office and Eunice Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that the last defendant remaining in a Shreveport/Bossier City area methamphetamine distribution case was sentenced Monday to 188 months in prison.

Jose Mejia Jr., 33, of Tyler, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to documents filed in the case, Mejia and others conspired to distribute methamphetamine in the Shreveport/Bossier City area from March 1, 2016 to December 1, 2016. Mejia was the source of supply from Texas. Meija would provide drugs and took part in directing their sale.

Other defendants prosecuted and sentenced include:

Joshua Caleb Tanner, 38, of Shreveport, sentenced on October 25, 2017 to 70 months in prison and five years of supervised release for one count of conspiracy with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Dusty Eugene Loughridge, 35, of Monroe, sentenced on October 25, 2017 to 235 months in prison and five years of supervised release for one count of conspiracy with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Cody James Bradberry, 33, of Shreveport, sentenced on October 11, 2017 to 124 months in prison and five years of supervised release for one count of conspiracy with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Jimmy E. Sollers, 29, of Shreveport, sentenced on October 5, 2017 to 70 months in prison for one count of conspiracy with intent to distribute methamphetamine and 60 months in prison for possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, to run consecutively. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Jonathan S. Hall, 33, of Bossier City, sentenced on October 5, 2017 to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release for one count of conspiracy with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

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

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a man from El Salvador was sentenced to 12 months in prison last week for reentering the country after being deported.

Nelson Antonio Orellana, 30, of San Miguel, El Salvador, was sentenced on October 30, 2017 by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter on one count of illegal reentry following deportation. According to the July 13, 2017 guilty plea, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents stopped a vehicle February 21, 2017 traveling east on Interstate 10. Agents found eight undocumented illegal aliens and one driver who had lawful status in the United States. Agents discovered Orellana among the group. They also discovered the defendant had illegally reentered the United States multiples times. Orellana was found to have been deported multiple times with the most recent deportation being March 4, 2016 from Alexandria, La. He reentered the country illegally on February 14, 2017 near Laredo, Texas.

United States Customs and Border Patrol conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a man from Kaplan pleaded guilty last week to possessing firearms and ammunition.

Micah J. Guillot, 33, of Kaplan, La., pleaded guilty Thursday 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 S. Maurice Hicks Jr. According to the guilty plea, a Lafayette police officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle being driven erratically on South Bertrand Drive on March 28, 2015. Guillot exited the vehicle wearing a ballistics vest. The officer later found ammunition in the vest. The officer also searched Guillot’s vehicle and found a .10 gauge shotgun, a .380 caliber handgun, .380 caliber ammunition, .22 caliber ammunition and .10 gauge shotgun ammunition. Guillot pleaded guilty September 18, 2014 to felony possession of controlled substances and September 20, 2012 to felony unauthorized use of an access card. 

Guillot faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court did not set a sentencing date.

This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.

The ATF and Lafayette Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth is prosecuting the case.

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a federal jury found a Lake Charles veterinarian and a Nebraska pharmacy guilty of conspiring to sell an unapproved opioid drug 40 times more powerful than morphine for the purpose of improving the performance of race horses.

Kyle James Hebert, 42, of Lake Charles, La., and Kohll’s Pharmacy & Healthcare Inc. of Omaha, Neb., were found guilty of one count of conspiracy.  Hebert was also found guilty of two counts of receipt of adulterated or misbranded drug with the intent to defraud and mislead; and one count of misbranding a drug while held for sale with the intent to defraud and mislead.  Kohll’s Pharmacy was also found guilty of two counts of introduction of adulterated or misbranded drug in interstate commerce with intent to defraud and mislead. United States District Judge Donald E. Walter presided over the trial. The defendants’ trial started October 30 and ended on Monday, November 7, 2017 with the jury returning the guilty verdict after deliberating for three and a half hours.

Evidence admitted at trial revealed that from November 11, 2010 to December 2012 Hebert, Kohll’s Pharmacy & Healthcare Inc. of Omaha, Neb., which operated as Essential Pharmacy Compounding, and others conspired to distribute a synthetic form of the drug Dermorphin, which was then given to racehorses to improve their racing performance.  Essential Pharmacy Compounding repackaged a synthetic form of the drug that it obtained from a California chemical company, labeled it as D-Peptide, and sold it to Hebert and other veterinarians.  Hebert then put the drug into syringes and gave the loaded syringes to the racetrack trainers tasked with the horses’ care.  Evidence at trial revealed that Demorphin is a strong painkiller that masks horses’ pain and any pre-existing injuries.  Depending on dosage, it can also act as a stimulant when injected in horses. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved the drug for use in humans or animals.

“This office is committed to vigorous prosecution of unlawful practices by pharmacies and/or distributors of harmful drugs that put humans or animals at risk,” Van Hook stated. “We are pleased with this verdict.”

“FDA is responsible for protecting not only human consumers, but also animals, including race horses, from unscrupulous distributors of illegal drugs,” said Justin D. Green, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ Miami Field Office. “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who attempt to evade the law.”

Hebert faces five years in prison for the conspiracy count and three years in prison for each of the other counts.  Kohll’s Pharmacy faces a substantial fine and other penalties based on its felony conviction.  The court will set a sentencing date in the future.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph T. Mickel and David C. Joseph are prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Shreveport man was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison with eight years suspended for driving while intoxicated on Barksdale Air Force Base.

Jesus J. Maldonado, 30, of Shreveport, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of driving while intoxicated, fifth offense. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. According to the July 25, 2017 guilty plea, a Barksdale security officer pulled over Maldonado’s vehicle on April 13, 2017 after it was seen driving erratically and showing signs of being in a wreck. He was found to have been driving under the influence of alcohol. He was also found to have been convicted on four previous occasions of driving while under the influence on October 20, 2007 in Bossier City, La.; on June 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, Calif.; on March 8, 2013 in Shreveport; and on May 16, 2013 in Shreveport.

The FBI and U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John Odom prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Florien man was sentenced Wednesday to 36 months in prison for not complying with sex offender registration requirements after he did not inform authorities he had moved back to Louisiana.

Christopher Shane Lewing, 37, of Florien, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of failure to register as a sex offender. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to the July 10, 2017 guilty plea, law enforcement agents arrested Lewing on January 25, 2017 in Sabine Parish on a warrant from Tennessee for a probation violation. He was living in Tennessee but had moved back to Louisiana in July of 2016 without informing law enforcement. Lewing told U.S. Marshals he knew he was required to update his sex offender registry but had not.

The U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case.

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Mississippi man was sentenced Monday to 48 months in prison for possessing child pornography on a computer at a Lake Charles RV park.

Jesse Easterling, 41, of Hattisburg, Miss., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of possession of child pornography. He was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. According to the May 2, 2017 guilty plea, law enforcement agents identified the defendant as having child pornography in April of 2016 while he was staying at an RV park in Lake Charles. Law enforcement agents searched his property and found 72 videos of child pornography on his computer. Some of the videos were sexually explicit images of children under the age of 12. He also admitted during an interview that he had downloaded child pornography over the internet.

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 Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti prosecuted the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Broussard man was sentenced Monday to 150 months in prison for receiving child pornography using his computer.

Frederic Woodruff French, 70, of Broussard, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of receiving child pornography. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. According to the June 28, 2017 guilty plea, French dropped off his laptop on August 14, 2014 to a computer repair technician to transfer data to a new computer. While transferring the data, the technician noticed images of child pornography on the computer. The technician called law enforcement agents who examined the laptop and found the images. They also found online chat logs where French discussed paying a woman in the Philippines to produce images of child pornography using her young prepubescent children. Based upon the on-line chats between French and the woman, French agreed to send money to the woman in return for her taking sexually explicit images of her children and sending them to French. He also discussed traveling to the Philippines to engage in sexual acts with the young children.

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.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Lafayette Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Morgan City man pleaded guilty Thursday to using the internet to download and possess child pornography.

Joshua Landry, 40, of Morgan City, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carol Whitehurst to one count of receiving child pornography. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement agents identified Landry as downloading child pornography to an electronic device in his home. Agents searched the home on February 8, 2017. The defendant’s cell phone was searched and three child pornography videos were found. He also admitted during an interview with agents that he downloaded child pornography.

Landry faces up to 10 years in prison, five years to life of supervised release, mandatory registration as a sex offender and up to a $250,000 fine.  The court set sentencing for February 16, 2018.

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 Lafayette FBI office number is (337) 262-2164.

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