November 13, 2015

Westbank Gang Members Plead Guilty

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that GLEN HOUSTON, age 22; SAVANNAH HOUSTON, age 25; JARRIN HARRIS, age 21; DENVER LONDON, age 22; JOESIA WILSON, age 27, and BRITTANY CONNER, age 22, all of the Harvey/Marrero area, pled guilty today to various charges, including conspiring to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine, as well as conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to court documents, all defendants were members and/or associates of the “Harvey Hustlers” gang. The Harvey Hustlers gang has been under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office (“JPSO”) since 2009. The Harvey Hustlers operated in the Eastern District of Louisiana, primarily on the Westbank of Jefferson Parish, including in the Harvey, Scottsdale, Avondale, and Waggaman areas. Other members of the Harvey Hustlers have previously been indicted and convicted in the United District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in United States v. Melvin Hudson, et al., 10-329, “F,” and United States v. Harry Smoot, et al., 14-168, “I.”

All defendants pled guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment which charges participating in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”), in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(b)(1)(A) and 846. The maximum penalties for this offense are a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment and/or a maximum fine of $10,000,000. Additionally, defendants GLEN HOUSTON, SAVANNAH HOUSTON, JARRIN HARRIS, DENVER LONDON, and JOESIA WILSON pled guilty to Count 2 of the indictment, participating in a conspiracy to use and carry, and possess firearms in furtherance of the drug conspiracy, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(o). The maximum penalties for this offense are 20 years in prison and/or a maximum fine of $250,000. All defendants are also subject to serve a term of supervised release upon completion of their sentences.

U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo set sentencing for all six defendants on February 18, 2015.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Myles Ranier and is the product of an ongoing investigation into the violent acts in furtherance of the drug trafficking by the Harvey Hustler gang and its various offshoots on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish. It represents the continued coordinated effort of the federal and state law enforcement authorities within the Multi-Agency Gang Unit (“MAG”), including the United States Attorney’s Office, the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office, Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and officers of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.