Yesterday afternoon, at approximately 3:45 p.m., the FBI New Orleans Division Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), in cooperation with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Jeffery A. Howard in Pearl River, Louisiana, on a federal charge of use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire.

As a result of an FBI Domestic Terrorism investigation, the New Orleans JTTF became aware of Howard, a known member of the Aryan Brotherhood, a violent white supremacy prison gang. Howard, who was allegedly involved in the trafficking of methamphetamine, sold drugs to an undercover law enforcement officer on numerous occasions. Howard later offered to conduct violent acts in exchange for money. Howard was arrested without incident by the FBI New Orleans Division SWAT team. He was later remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service.

This case will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana.

The public is reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.