33 People Indicted on Federal Drug Charges

Numerous individuals already under sealed federal indictments on drug charges were arrested earlier today during a roundup conducted by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration, along with the assistance of Jefferson Parish and St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Offices, and the Covington, New Orleans and Gretna Police Departments, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten and Dave Welker, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the New Orleans Field Division.

Specifically, thirty-three (33) individuals were indicted by Federal Grand Juries in four (4) separate indictments for various federal narcotics violations – along with some firearms violations. The majority of those individuals have, at the time of this release, been arrested and are in custody. The federal indictments which remained sealed by order of the U. S. District Court, were unsealed this morning in order to facilitate the arrests.

In the first indictment, KEVIN PHILLIPS, age 36, RODNEY WALKER, age 36, CHARLES WALKER, age 20, TROY WILLIAMS, age 26, DARTAGNAN COLEMAN, age 28, RODRIGO CONNOR, age 36, FELTON WILLIAMS, age 31, DAMON DANOS, age 38, and JEROME MARTIN, age 42, all residents of Marrero, Louisiana, were charged in a thirteen (13) count indictment with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fifty (50) grams or more of cocaine base (crack) and five hundred (500) grams or more of cocaine hydrochloride, possession with the intent to distribute fifty (50) grams or more of cocaine base (crack), five (5) grams or more of cocaine base (crack), a quantity of heroin, marijuana, and cocaine hydrochloride, and using communications facilities in the commission of drug trafficking crimes. If convicted, each defendant faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment. All nine defendants have been arrested and are in federal custody.

The indictment and arrests followed an ongoing investigation which utilized court ordered surveillance and other investigative techniques by the partner law enforcement agencies. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Gretna Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Sean Toomey.

In the second case, NATHANIEL JACKSON, III, age 23, his wife, DESTINY C. ROUTE,age 26, KALIC K. JACKSON, age 30, NATHANIEL JACKSON, JR., age 51, KENDRICK D. CHATMAN, JR., age 35, and KENNETH D. DAVIDSON, age 30, all residents of Covington, Louisiana, were charged in a twelve (12) count indictment with participating in a criminal conspiracy to distribute more than fifty (50) grams of crack cocaine. Additionally, NATHANIEL JACKSON, III, is charged with eight (8) counts of distributing five (5) grams or more of crack cocaine; DESTINY ROUTE is charged with five (5) counts of distributing five (5) grams or more of crack cocaine; DAVIDSON is charged with four (4) counts of distributing five (5) grams or more of crack cocaine; KALIC JACKSON is charged with two (2) counts of distributing five (5) grams or more of crack cocaine; and NATHANIEL JACKSON, JR. and KENDRICK CHATMAN are each charged with one count of distributing five (5) grams or more of crack cocaine. If convicted, each defendant faces a possible maximum sentencing of life imprisonment.

According to publicly available information contained in an affidavit in support of an arrest warrant (which was only recently unsealed), this particular indictment charging six (6) individuals was the result of a joint undercover investigation between members of the FBI Gang Task Force and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office involving communications surveillance and undercover investigative techniques, including undercover purchases of controlled substances at various locations in St. Tammany Parish.

All six of these defendants are presently in custody, having been arrested in Northshore operations this morning.

Another seven individuals who have been arrested arising out of this case, and who have been charged with state racketeering violations include: HOUSTON WILSON, GARY CLARK, JAMES CLARK, KENSI TONEY, HILTON DAVENPORT, REGINALD HICKS, and KIRK MINER.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Covington Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Christopher Cox.

In the third case, seventeen (17) individuals, CALVINA McDOWELL, age 19, a resident of Westwego, KAVEN LANE, JR., age 28, a resident of Marrero, JONATHAN JOSEPH, age 25, a resident of Marrero, CYRIL DEGREE, age 25, a resident of Harvey, QUANTIES DAVIS, age 32, a resident of Marrero, TERRELL WINCHESTER, age 29, a resident of Marrero, BURNELL WILSON, age 30, a resident of Marrero, RALPH RILEY JOHNSON a/k/a “Boogalie,” age 31, a resident of Marrero, RONALD CHASTER JOHNSON a/k/a “Big Daddy,” age 31, a resident of Marrero, WILLIAM BARNES SHEARS III, age 30, a resident of Westwego, HUEY COLE a/k/a “Stretch,” age 27, a resident of Marrero, JOHNIE ANTOINE THOMPSON a/k/a “Big Man,” age 23, a resident of Marrero, COREY LENARD WATTS a/k/a “Cocomo,” age 34, a resident of Harvey, MARK RENEE JAMES, age 27, a resident of Marrero, DERRICK ALEXANDER, age 30, a resident of Marrero, MILTON BEVERLY, age 28, a resident of Harvey, and LEROY DABNEY, IV, age 26, a resident of Marrero, were charged in a four (4) count superseding indictment for with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine, five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride, and a quantity of marijuana. Additionally, LANE, JR., and JOSEPH were also charged in conspiring to use, carry, and possess firearms in furtherance of the drug conspiracy. Additionally, COLE was charged with distribution of marijuana and McDOWELL was charged with possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine. If convicted, each defendant faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

This indictment was brought as a result of an ongoing undercover investigation which utilized Court-ordered electronic surveillance techniques as well. Twelve of these defendants have been arrested and are in federal custody. The following defendants remain at large and are being sought by authorities: RONALD CHASTER JOHNSON, WILLIAM BARNES SHEARS, MARK RENE JAMES, DERRICK ALEXANDER, and MILTON BEVERLY.

The first seven-named defendants were previously indicted in this matter along with JERMAINE WINCHESTER, MARLON JONES, CLYDE PEREZ, and KEVIN COLLINS. WINCHESTER, JONES, and PEREZ have previously pled guilty in that matter and are awaiting sentencing. TRAVIS EVERY also pled guilty in a related matter before U. S. District Judge Martin L. C. Feldman and is awaiting sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Gretna Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Kevin G. Boitmann.

In the fourth indictment, BRIAN RIGGINS, age 39, a resident of Harvey, Louisiana, was charged in a four count indictment for possession with the intent to distribute five (5) kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride and fifty (50) grams or more of cocaine base (crack), possessing three firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, being a convicted felon in possession of three firearms, and possessing a short-barreled shotgun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, RIGGINS faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment. RIGGINS is also in federal custody.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Sean Toomey.

Speaking to today’s events, U. S. Attorney Jim Letten stated, “Today’s roundup following the multiple indictments of no less that 34 individuals on an array of federal narcotics and firearms charges is sobering evidence of the scale of dangerous narcotics use and trafficking not only in our cities, but also in our surrounding suburban and rural areas. More significantly, today’s roundup and indictments provide continuing and powerful evidence of our commitment in federal enforcement to aggressively identify, investigate, and charge – through all legal means possible – those individuals who, through violation of our federal criminal laws – pose a threat to public safety in the entire region. Today’s events are also evidence of outstanding, seamless partnerships which exist between federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals. Our special thanks go out to the Special Agents of the FBI, as well as DEA, and our tremendous partners in the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, New Orleans Police Department, as well as the Covington and Gretna Police Departments.”

U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.