Department of Justice Press Release

For Immediate Release
December 17, 2009 United States Attorney's Office
Western District of Louisiana
Contact: (318) 676-3641

Thirteen Face Federal Indictment for Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses in Lafayette, Louisiana
Defendants Face Up to Life in Prison

LAFAYETTE, LA—Thirteen defendants were indicted on drug trafficking and felony firearms charges related to the organized distribution of powder and crack cocaine within Lafayette, Louisiana and the surrounding area, United States Attorney Donald W. Washington announced today. The investigation focused on activity within the Truman neighborhood area within Lafayette. The indictment is a result of a lengthy investigation conducted jointly by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies fanned out over the area on Tuesday morning and arrested ten of the defendants, all of whom appeared in U. S. District Court in Lafayette for an initial appearance Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. before Magistrate Judge C. Michael Hill. One of the defendants remains at large. A complete list of the defendants and the charges is attached.

The indictment alleges that the defendants knowingly and intentionally conspired to distribute and posses with intent to distribute over 50 grams of cocaine base or “crack.â€