News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 15, 2008
Warren Rivera
Public Information Officer
DEA New Orleans Field Division
Office (504) 840-1070
Ten Members of Louisiana Drug Ring Arrested
AUG 15 -- (Lafayette, Louisiana) - Federal, state and local law enforcement agents arrested members of a major drug trafficking organization based in Breaux Bridge and Lafayette, Louisiana on Wednesday, August 13, 2008. The arrests and unsealing of a federal indictment was announced today by United States Attorney, Donald W. Washington.
On July 16, 2008, a sealed 41-count indictment was returned by the Western District of Louisiana Federal Grand Jury. The indictment includes conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base and other controlled substances. The indictment also charges multiple counts of distribution of cocaine, firearms violations, unlawful use of communication facilities and continuing criminal enterprise.
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Lafayette, Louisiana Post of Duty, has been investigating members of a drug trafficking organization, based in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana and Lafayette, Louisiana, for the past two years. This multi-agency investigation revealed that members of the criminal organization have been involved in a scheme to bring cocaine and other narcotics into Louisiana from Houston, Texas. According to the indictment, the organization was responsible for distributing the illegal narcotics throughout the Acadiana area, and also transporting money derived from drug sales back to Houston, Texas. If convicted, the defendants face a minimum mandatory prison sentence of 10 years confinement up to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Those with one prior felony drug conviction will be exposed to minimum mandatory sentences of 20 years confinement to life imprisonment.
Indicted are the following individuals:
- DARIUS NATHANIEL FISHER, age 29, of Houston, Texas;
- LATASHA MONIQUE OLIPHANT, age 32, of Houston, Texas;
- TIDUS RAY NADIE, age 22, of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana;
- RAVEN ROCHELLE DAVENPORT, age 30, of Abbeville, Louisiana;
- MELVIN WAYNE ALEXANDER, age 33, of Lafayette, Louisiana;
- WALTER PAUL JERMAINE LEVY, age 29, of Abbeville, Louisiana;
- JACORY JAMAR SIMON, age 20, of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana;
- ROBERT ANDREW COLBERT, age 26, of New Iberia, Louisiana;
- ABDUL KAREEM FRANCOIS, age 28, of St. Martinville, Louisiana; and
- HAROLD JEREMAINE GUIDRY, age 32, of Lafayette, Louisiana.
On August 13, 2008, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration executed arrest warrants in the Acadiana area pursuant to this federal indictment. Several of the individuals were apprehended while others remain at large. Lafayette DEA agents are currently pursuing the individuals that are at large. Initial appearances for MELVIN ALEXANDER, ROBERT COLBERT, RAVEN DAVENPORT, WALTER LEVY, and JACORY SIMON were held on Wednesday, August 13, 2008, to be followed by initial appearances for TIDUS NADIE and HAROLD GUIDRY which will be scheduled for a future date.
An indictment is merely an accusation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Lafayette, Louisiana Post of Duty, is a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiative comprised of special agents of the DEA, and agents from the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Police Department, Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office, Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, Opelousas Police Department and the Louisiana National Guard. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brett L. Grayson and Collin Sims.
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