New Orleans Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Drug and Gun Violations

NEW ORLEANS, LA—TODD DAGGS, age 31, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced today in federal court by U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt to life in prison for his role in a multiple kilogram heroin and cocaine conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten. In addition, Judge Engelhardt sentenced DAGGS to 30 years to run consecutive for two gun violations, as well as 10 years of supervised release, during which time he will be under federal supervision and risks additional imprisonment should he violate any terms of the release.

According to court documents, the defendant was convicted by a jury in August 2010, of multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Co-defendant BOLTON was also found guilty of three counts of using a telephone in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. At trial, the government presented evidence of the defendants’ telephone calls from FBI wiretaps of their co-conspirators’ cellular telephones in 2007. The evidence at trial also showed that Bolton and DAGGS were being supplied with heroin and cocaine transported to New Orleans from an associate living in Houston. When their Houston associate was arrested in September 2007, DAGGS was then provided the contact information for another supplier, an illegal alien from Columbia who also resided in Houston, from whom the defendant received up to five kilograms of heroin until the supplier was identified and arrested on July 4, 2008.

The government’s evidence against DAGGS also included narcotics and gun charges stemming from his arrest by Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office on July 12, 2005, after he was shot in his car in Harvey. An investigation stemming from that shooting revealed that DAGGS was in possession of a Glock handgun, marijuana, and heroin. A subsequent search warrant as executed on his residence in the 700 block of Lake Avenue, in which recovered 350 capsules of heroin, 123 grams of cocaine, drug distribution paraphernalia, and a Lorcin 9 millimeter handgun.

Co-defendant Bolton, who also faces possible life imprisonment, is scheduled to be sentenced on December 15, 2010.

This case was investigated by special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, DEA-HIDTA, and Memphis Police Department. The prosecution team was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Quinlan.