Category: Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans seized 59,425 counterfeit items valued at more than $1 million during a holiday-related intellectual property rights surge operation.

The HSI-led initiative, dubbed Operation Safety Claus, was supported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, with support from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations. The coordinated federal law enforcement operation focused on interrupting counterfeit efforts in the New Orleans metro area during the holiday shopping season. In total, the seized counterfeit items had a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $1,012,942.

HSI New Orleans Deputy Special Agent in Charge Jeb Bison said that intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement is a priority for HSI amongst all the federal crimes the agency is tasked with investigating.

“Counterfeit products such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics pose a serious threat to the health and safety of unsuspecting consumers, impacts legitimate trade, and compromises our national security,” said Bison. “We are committed to working closely with our federal and state partners and private sector stakeholders to keep illegal and dangerous products away from the U.S. public, while disrupting revenue streams that fund transnational criminal organization.”

Beginning in November, more than two-dozen HSI New Orleans special agents began conducting surveillance of area business locations, ultimately identifying numerous vendors engaged in the illegal sale of counterfeit goods.

Although Black Friday has long been the unofficial start to the U.S. holiday season, retailers have pushed holiday shopping earlier for the last decade or so. The pandemic and supply chain shortages have also created an earlier start to the shopping season and increased online shopping demand. During the second phase of the operation, special agents shifted focus to the holiday gift-buying season and seized counterfeit cosmetics, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, electronics, sports memorabilia, designer watches, clothing and shoes, and other miscellaneous items.

“As the federal agency responsible for the management, control, and protection of U.S. borders and ports of entry, CBP is on the frontline of Intellectual Property Rights enforcement. Counterfeit and pirated goods harm America’s economy and our business competition, which affects the livelihood of our workers and business owners,” said Terri Edwards, Area Port Director, New Orleans. “What you may not know, is when you buy counterfeit goods, you’re not only buying a potential health and safety risk, but you may be helping fund larger criminal activity. Buy from legitimate sellers, do your research, and remember: if a deal feels too good to be true, it’s probably fake.”

HSI special agents investigate and enforce violations of federal trademark, copyright and patent laws. HSI’s commercial fraud program focuses on commercial imports based on false statements and deceptive business practices. The production and trafficking of counterfeit goods poses a significant risk and safety threats to consumers. It also impacts the economic growth of legitimate businesses and consumers through lost revenue, downtime and replacement costs. The HSI-led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center is one of the key weapons in the fight against criminal counterfeiting and piracy. HSI agents with the IPR Center work alongside other federal, state and local law enforcement partners across the country to share information, develop initiatives, coordinate enforcement actions and conduct investigations related to intellectual property theft.

ST. TAMMANY PARISH — Troopers from the Louisiana State Police made a routine traffic stop on I-12 in St. Tammany Parish on Wednesday, December 1, when they located and seized 18 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine.

Police say the street value of this amount is estimated at $2.2 million.

After discovering the illegal narcotics, troopers arrested Ricardo Guevara, 47 of Texas, for drug related charges and booked him into St. Tammany Parish Jail.

n the last 30 days, state police from all over Louisiana have seized over $6 million in illegal narcotics during the course of numerous traffic stops, they report.

Troopers seized approximately 37.5 kilograms of methamphetamine worth an estimated $4.6 million, 3.5 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated $105k, 577 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $1.6 million, along with a variety of other illegal narcotics on Louisiana highways.

According to LSP spokesperson, troopers will continue to provide the citizens of Louisiana a safer community through proactive drug related enforcement and cooperative efforts with local and federal law enforcement agencies and will target local and multi-state drug trafficking organizations by enforcing all state and federal laws governing the illicit manufacturing, distribution, sale, and use of drugs.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today, that CHRIS ROSS, age 20 from Slidell and TREJON HOWARD, age 20 from New Orleans pled guilty on September 22, 2021 to various firearm and drug charges.  Their guilty pleas stem from participation in a December 28, 2020 shootout  on the 15^th floor of the Jung Hotel on Canal Street.

Earlier this year the federal Grand Jury handed down two related Indictments charging a total of seven individuals with various violations of the Federal Gun Control Act and Federal Controlled Substances Act. ROSS and HOWARD are the first of the defendants to plead guilty in connection with these cases. Both ROSS and HOWARD pled guilty to Counts 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Indictment pending against them.

In their the five (5) count Indictment, the grand jury charged ROSS, Tiquan EVERSON, HOWARD, and Blake BATISTE.  Count 1 charged each with conspiracy to use and carry firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and a crime of violence, in Violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(o).  Count 2 charged each with attempting to commit a Hobbs Act Robbery, in violation of Title 18, United Stated Code, Section 1951.  Count 3 charged each with carrying and discharging firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(iii).  Count 4 charged each  with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(1)(D).  Count 5 charged EVERSON with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).

Counts 1 and 2 carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000.00 fine, and up to 3 years supervised release. Count 3 carries a consecutive sentence of 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000.00 fine, and up to 5 years supervised release.  Count 4 carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000.00 fine, and at least 2 years supervised release.  Count 5 carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000.00 fine, and up to 3 years supervised release.  Both ROSS and HOWARD, individually, must pay a mandatory $100 special assessment fee for each count.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  Assistant United States Attorneys Maurice Landrieu and Elizabeth Privitera are in charge of the prosecution.

LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Brandal Moore, 27, of Crowley, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays to 240 months (20 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for being involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment in October 2019 charging Moore and others with being involved in the drug trafficking conspiracy in the Crowley, Louisiana area. Moore pleaded guilty to the charge on May 27, 2021. During their investigation of Moore and his co-conspirators, law enforcement agents learned of Moore’s drug trafficking activities. Their investigation revealed that between April and September 2019, Moore and his co-conspirators used a house in Rayne, Louisiana to store methamphetamine, guns, and cash which they obtained from the distribution of narcotics. Moore sold the methamphetamine that he received from his co-conspirators to other methamphetamine dealers in the Crowley area in quantities ranging from one ounce to multiple ounces per transaction.

A search warrant was obtained by law enforcement agents for the house where the narcotics were being stored by Moore and his co-conspirators. During the search of the house, agents found 5 firearms, approximately 700 grams of methamphetamine, a notebook with drug ledger entries, and other drug paraphernalia. Inside a vehicle located on the property, agents found $15,000 in cash, approximately 350 grams of cocaine, 30 grams of crack cocaine, and approximately 5 kilograms of methamphetamine. Inside another vehicle on the property, agents found approximately 3,555 grams of cocaine located in a hidden compartment.

The FBI and DEA conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth prosecuted the case.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JORDY ROBERTSON, age 37, from St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, was sentenced to 96 months of imprisonment by United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter for drug trafficking and wire fraud offenses.  ROBERTSON was also sentenced to 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $200 in special assessment fees.  In addition, ROBERTSON must pay restitution in the amount of $116,216, including to those of his victims that made donations through his fraudulent charitable campaign posted on GoFundMe.

According to court documents, ROBERTSON’s drug trafficking conspiracy ran from at least May of 2017 through January of 2019, and his wire fraud scheme ran from October of 2016 through January of 2019.

“Today’s sentencing of Jordy Robertson illustrates our commitment to bring federal offenders to justice,” stated U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.  “Mr. Robertson’s criminal activities showed a blatant disregard for the generosity of others. Our office will continue to work with our local and federal law enforcement partners to protect the citizens of the Eastern District of Louisiana.

“The wreckage caused by drugs affects everyone.  Drug dealers breed crime in our neighborhoods and are a danger to our children,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley.  “The conviction and subsequent sentencing of Jordy Robertson demonstrates to the citizens in this parish and beyond that federal and local law enforcement, when we combine our resources, can come together and accomplish great things.  We will continue to work side by side with all of our law enforcement partners to make our communities safer places to live.”

“It is through the seamless relationship with our federal partners in the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Attorney’s Office that Mr. Robertson was brought to justice,” stated Sheriff Mike Tregre, St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan L. Shih and Nicholas D. Moses are in charge of the prosecution.

This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”). OCDETF 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.