Two Members of Home Invasion Gang Sentenced in Federal Court
Ring Leader Sentenced to 39 Years’ Imprisonment
| U.S. Attorney’s Office April 30, 2009 |
LAFAYETTE, LA—United States Attorney Donald W. Washington, announced today the sentencing of LOVELESS BELL, a/k/a LOVELESS MILSON and SHANE ANTHONY JOLLIVETTE in United States District Court before U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik.
LOVELESS BELL and SHANE JOLLIVETTE, along with five other individuals, were indicted in May 2007, and in a Superceding Indictment in September 2007. BELL pled guilty in September 2008, to Count 4 of the Superceding Indictment for attempted interference with commerce by robbery and Counts 5 and 8 for possession and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. JOLLIVETTE pled guilty in September 2008, to Count 14 of the Superceding Indictment for possession of stolen firearm.
BELL, the ring leader of this gang, and JOLLIVETTE, a member of the gang, were involved in carrying out an elaborate drug trafficking conspiracy that committed home invasions of drug dealers and robbed them at gunpoint in order to obtain drugs, money and firearms. During the course of these conspiracies, many individuals were victimized by being held at gunpoint, assaulted and raped, and at one point, an individual was shot in the forehead. In some instances, babies and teenagers were present.
This case was the result of a three-year investigation by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Police Department, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms.
LOVELESS BELL, a/k/a Loveless Milson, age 31, of Lafayette, Louisiana, was sentenced to seven (7) years imprisonment and a term of three (3) years supervised release following confinement for Count 4 (robbery), seven (7) years imprisonment and a term of five (5) years supervised release following confinement for Count 5 (firearms violation), to run consecutive with Count 4, and twenty-five (25) years imprisonment and a term of five (5) years supervised release following confinement for Count 8 (second firearms violation), to run consecutive with Count 5.
SHANE ANTHONY JOLLIVETTE, age 25, of Sunset, Louisiana, was sentenced to 65 months imprisonment and a term of three (3) years supervised release following confinement. Facts surrounding the co-defendants in this matter are as follows:
KENDRICK SHANE BOUDREAUX, a/k/a as “Fly,” age 28, of Lafayette, Louisiana, pled guilty in May 2008 to Count 4 of the Superceding Indictment for Attempted Interference with Commerce by Robbery and was sentenced in September 2008, to 441 months imprisonment and a term of three (3) years supervised release following confinement.
WILSON PATRICK BREAUX, a/k/a Wilson Milson, age 22, of Lafayette, Louisiana, pled guilty in October 2008, to Counts 14 and 17 of the Superceding Indictment for Possession of Stolen Firearm and was sentenced in March 2009, to 37 months imprisonment and a term of three (3) years supervised release following confinement.
STERLING HENRY GIVENS, JR., a/k/a “Teddy,” age 36, of Lafayette, Louisiana, pled guilty in April 2009, to Count 4 of the Superceding Indictment for Attempted Interference with Commerce by Robbery, which carries an imprisonment term of confinement up to twenty (20) years, a fine up to $250,000.00, and a term of three (3) years supervised release following confinement; and Count 5 of the Superceding Indictment for Possession and Carrying of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, which, due to the fact that the defendant has a prior conviction for the same offense, carries a mandatory term of imprisonment of twenty-five (25) years consecutive to any other sentence of confinement, a fine up to $250,000.00, and a term of supervised release of not more three (3) years, following confinement. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
ANTHONY BIRTHA was convicted by a federal jury on April 9, 2009, on 15 counts of drug conspiracy and firearm charges, to include armed robbery. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
LEON PAPILLION, JR., a/k/a “Wood” is awaiting trial scheduled for June 2009. Sentencing in federal court is determined by the discretion of federal judges and the governing statute. United States Sentencing Guidelines established by the United States Congress and the United States Sentencing Commission are only used as guidelines by the judge in determining the appropriate sentence. Parole has been abolished in the federal system.
The South Central Louisiana Safe Streets Gang Task Force is comprised of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Police Department and Morgan City Police Department.
This case was investigated by Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Police Department, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brett L. Grayson and J. Collin Sims.