NEW ORLEANS—U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that BAKEER RASHED, JR., age 33, of Houston was sentenced today after having pled guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine hydrochloride.

U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle sentenced RASHED to served 66 months’ incarceration, to be followed by four years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.

According to the factual basis filed in open court, RASHED conspired to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine hydrochloride from July 25, 2006, through February 19, 2007, with co-conspirators living in Louisiana. RASHED, who lived in Houston, was the point of contact for facilitating numerous drug deals.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the assistance of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Edward J. Rivera was in charge of the prosecution.