U.S. Attorney's Office
July 24, 2015

Superseding Indictment Returned Against Former St. Bernard Deputy Sheriff and Second Individual for Drug Distribution and Obstruction Charges

NEW ORLEANS—U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that BRANDON LICCIARDI, age 29 of Meraux, Louisiana, and ERIK NUNEZ, age 28, formerly of New Orleans, were charged today in a seven-count second superseding indictment. LICCIARDI, a former St. Bernard Deputy, was charged with Conspiracy to Distribute MDMA (Ecstasy) Alprazolam, Diazepam and Zolpidem with intent to commit rape and two counts of distributing these substances with intent to commit rape. LICCIARDI was also charged with two counts of Witness Tampering and one count of Impeding an Investigation. NUNEZ was charged with Conspiracy to Impede an Official Investigation. The maximum punishments for these offenses are as follows:

COUNT

CHARGE

DEFENDANT

MAXIMUM PENALTIES

1

18 U.S.C. 1512(b)(1); Tampering with a Witness

Brandon Licciardi

20 Years, $250,000 Fine, 3 Years Supervised Release.

2

18 U.S.C. 1512(b)(1); Tampering with a Witness

Brandon Licciardi

20 Years, $250,000 Fine, 3 Years Supervised Release.

3

18 U.S.C. 1512(c)(2); Impeding an Investigation

Brandon Licciardi

20 Years, $250,000 Fine, 3 Years Supervised Release.

4

18 U.S.C. 1512(k), Conspiracy to Impede an Investigation

Erik Nunez

20 Years, $250,000 Fine, 3 Years Supervised Release.

5

21 U.S.C. 846; Conspiracy to Distribute a Schedule IV Controlled Substance;

Brandon Licciardi

20 Years, $250,000 Fine, 3 Years Supervised Release.

6

21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1),(b)(1)(D) & (E)(7)(A); Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Schedule IV

Brandon Licciardi

20 Years, $250,000 Fine, 3 Years Supervised Release.

7

21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1),(b)(1)(D) & (E)(7)(A); Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Schedule IV

Brandon Licciardi

20 Years, $250,000 Fine, 3 Years Supervised Release.

U.S. Attorney Polite indicated that DARREN SHARPER was not named in the current superseding indictment as a result of his prior pleas of guilty to federal drug charges. U.S. Attorney Polite reiterated that, at this time, the charges in the Second Superseding Indictment are merely allegations, and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter and thanked the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office for their assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark A. Miller and Michael E. McMahon are in charge of the prosecution.