SHREVEPORT, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a federal grand jury indicted four people in a cocaine and methamphetamine distribution operation in Caddo, Bossier, DeSoto, and Red River parishes.

Those named in the 16-count indictment are: Shawn F. Swift, 35; Linda G. Brown, 59; Ricky R. Swift, 62; and Jarvis D. Randle, 26, all of Shreveport.

According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, and cocaine base from January of 2013 to October of 2014 in Caddo, Bossier, DeSoto and Red River parishes. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of 39 weapons seized during the investigation of this case and more than $360,000. Specifically, the indictment states that $89,700 was seized during a traffic stop on September 21, 2014; $237,753 was seized from the home of Ricky Swift and Linda Brown on October 21, 2014; and $40,457 was seized from the home of Shawn Swift on October 21, 2014.

The defendants face various possible penalties depending on the drug quantity involved and their criminal histories as listed below:

• Conspiracy to Possess and Distribute Cocaine—up to 20 years in prison, and for some, up to life in prison, and up to five years of supervised release;

• Distribution of Cocaine and Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine—up to 20 years in prison, and for some, up to 40 years in prison, and up to five years of supervised release;

• Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking—a mandatory five years in prison consecutive to any other sentence and three years of supervised release;

• Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon—up to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release;

• Possession of Firearms with Obliterated Serial Numbers—up to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release; and

• Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises—up to 20 years in prison and five years of supervised release.

The defendants also face a fine of up to $5 million and forfeiture of the money and property seized in the case.

The defendants were arrested as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation named “Not So Swift.” The FBI, ATF, DEA, Louisiana State Police, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. The OCDETF program is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys James G. Cowles Jr. and Allison D. Bushnell are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.