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Press Release

Grand Jury Indicts Jarvis Hardy in Shooting of DEA Task Force Officer

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that JARVIS HARDY, age 26, a resident of New Orleans, was charged in an eight-count Indictment attempted murder of a federal law enforcement officer (Count One); discharging one firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and a drug trafficking crime (Count Two); possessing a second firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (Count Three);  possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”) (Count Four); and four counts of distribution of quantities of cocaine base (“crack”) (Counts 5-8).

According to court documents, on January 26, 2016, agents and task force officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) executed a search warrant for 5300 Douglas Street and an arrest warrant for HARDY.  During the execution of the warrants, DEA Task Force Officer Stephen C. Arnold, was shot multiple times by HARDY.  Following the shooting, investigating agents recovered two firearms from HARDY’s residence, as well as amounts of cocaine base (“crack”).  The execution of the warrants followed an extended investigation of HARDY by the DEA that included multiple undercover purchases of cocaine base.

If convicted, HARDY faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years, a fine of $250,000 and five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment as to Count One; for the firearm charges in Counts Two and Three, HARDY faces a consecutive minimum term of imprisonment of five years up to life imprisonment for one firearm count and a consecutive minimum term of imprisonment of twenty-five years to life imprisonment for the second firearm count, each count also carries a potential fine of $250,000 and five years of supervised release; as to Count Four, HARDY faces a minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of forty years, a potential fine of $5,000,000 and four years of supervised release; as to Counts 5-8, HARDY faces  as to each count, a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years, a fine of $1,000,000 and three years of supervised release.       

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

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter.  Assistant U. S. Attorneys William J. Quinlan, Jr. and David Haller are in charge of the prosecution.

 

Updated February 5, 2016

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Violent Crime