U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that LAVELL STOVALL, 22, of New Orleans, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to federal drug and firearms charges. STOVALL was one of seven defendants that were charged in a gang indictment that was returned on October 4, 2013.

U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle sentenced STOVALL to 480 months’ imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

On August 7, 2014, STOVALL pled guilty to Counts 1 and 2 of a superseding Bill of Information. As part of the written plea agreement, STOVALL acknowledged his participation in a conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and a conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.

According to court documents, STOVALL admitted that on June 14, 2010, he participated in a drive-by shooting which resulted in the murder of Ms. Eula Mae Ivey. STOVALL admitted that he, CHARLES JOHNSON, CAREY JONES, NORMAN RATCLIFF, THERON GOLSTON, and CHARLES CANNON used two vehicles to search with the intent to kill a rival gang member. As they drove past the rival gang member’s house the defendants saw their rival and opened fire. The defendants missed their target and hit Ms. Ivey, who was standing in her driveway. Ms. Ivey was pronounced dead at the scene. To date, JONES, GOLSTON AND RATCLIFF have all pled guilty to participating in this murder. JONES and GOLSTON were each sentenced to life in prison, RATCLIFF was sentenced to serve 396 months, and CANNON pled guilty in state court. CHARLES JOHNSON is scheduled to go to trial in February 2015.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of the MAG Unit in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr. is in charge of the prosecution.