Slidell Man Sentenced to Five Years for Federal Drug Violation

WILLIE MELVIN JONES, age 51, a resident of Slidell, Louisiana, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle to 60 months of incarceration after he pled guilty to a one-count superseding bill of information for participating in a drug conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine basem or “crack,” announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Lemelle ordered that JONES be placed on five years of supervised release following the term of imprisonment, during which time the defendant will be under federal supervision and risks an additional term of imprisonment should he violate any terms of his supervised release.

According to court documents, between February, 2010 and September 2010, JONES conspired with others in the Slidell area to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, or “crack.” Numerous telephone calls between JONES and a crack supplier were recorded pursuant to a court-authorized wiretap. In those calls, JONES arranged for the purchase of crack from his supplier on several occasions.

This investigation was initiated based upon a request for assistance by St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain. Deputies with the Narcotics Unit of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office have assisted special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with this matter. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Violent Crime Unit.