News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2009
Contact: Special Agent Warren Rivera
Number: (504) 840-1070

Multi-Kilogram Cocaine Distributer Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Charges

MAR 12 -- NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -QUINCY BROWN, age 39, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty in federal court to twelve counts of a Superseding Indictment charging him with multiple counts of distribution of cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine base and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride and 50 grams or more of cocaine base, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten and DEA Special Agent in Charge Jimmy S. Fox III.

According to court documents, in May, 2007, Special Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration began an investigation into the drug trafficking activities of BROWN and others in the Eastern District of Louisiana.  During the course of the investigation, agents made undercover purchases of cocaine powder and crack from BROWN.  Agents also utilized a court-ordered Title III wiretap of his phone which revealed the identities of BROWN’s customers and suppliers.  BROWN, who mainly distributed cocaine and crack in Metairie and the Lakeview area of New Orleans, had amassed over $640,000 in cash, the majority of which he kept in safe deposit boxes at local banks.  BROWN pled guilty to having distributed between 15 and 50 kilograms of cocaine powder and 500 grams to 1.5 kilograms of cocaine base. 

BROWN faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $4 million fine, and at least five (5) years supervised release following any imprisonment.

Also pleading guilty on Wednesday was JASON FLOWERS, age 32, a resident of Harvey, Louisiana.  FLOWERS pled guilty to a Superseding Bill of Information charging him with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base and with having one prior drug felony conviction. According to court documents, FLOWERS supplied BROWN with 5 ounces of cocaine base during the course of the investigation. 

FLOWERS faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $8 million, and ten (10) years of supervised release following any imprisonment. 

In related matters, RAYMOND NARO, age 43, and FRANK VENEGAS, age 46, both residents of Covington, pled guilty before Judge Engelhardt on February 4, 2008, to Superseding Bills of Information charging them with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine base.  According to their plea documents, both NARO and VENEGAS drove BROWN to and from drug deals, including the undercover buys that were part of the DEA’s investigation.  NARO and VENEGAS face a maximum of thirty (30) years imprisonment and a $2 million fine.  CLIFFORD ROBERSON, age 47, a resident of Arabi, pled guilty on February 18, 2009, to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine powder.  He had been charged in the Superseding Indictment with BROWN with one count of conspiracy.  According to court documents, ROBERSON supplied BROWN with 100 to 200 grams of cocaine powder during the course of the agents’ investigation.   ROBERSON faces a possible maximum sentence of twenty (20) years in prison and $1 million fine.

The Superseding Indictment also charged RODERICK WASHINGTON, age 20, a resident of Kenner;  RICHARD CREAGER, age 50, a resident of Metairie; GLEN LANE, age 52, a resident of Metairie;  KENDALL BAGNERIS, age 42, a resident of New Orleans; LINDA ANDERSON, age 42, a resident of Pearl River; STEVEN NICK, age 50, a resident of Metairie; GABRIELLE MORRIS, age 38, a resident of Harahan; MOHAMMED MORSY, age 47, a resident of Metairie with multiple counts of violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act.  DARLENE WOODS, age 51, a resident of Metairie, was charged by way of Superseding Bill of Information, with one count of conspiracy and one count of using a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking crime.  The trial of  those defendants is set for March 16, 2009, before Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt. 

According to court documents, the prosecution involving BROWN and his co-defendants is connected to 45 individual state cases being prosecuted by the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s office.  On November 21, 2008, law enforcement officers arrested those individuals, who were customers and co-conspirators of BROWN on charges of conspiracy to attempt to possess cocaine. 

The U. S. Attorney’s office also has another related case with links to BROWN.  On January 22, 2009, a federal grand jury sitting in the Eastern District of Louisiana returned a seven count Superseding Indictment against BLAIR ARROYO, age 37, a resident of New Orleans; DEAN GUAGLIARDO, age 43, a resident of Covington; MICHAEL ANTOINE, age 33, a resident of Kenner; and EARL MEILLEUR, age 61, a resident of New Orleans, charging them with a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine powder and 50 grams or more of crack. Each defendant was additionally charged with having used a telephone in facilitating a drug trafficking offense.   ARROYO, who was named in six of the seven counts,  was additionally charged with being a felon in possession of firearms, including numerous assault rifles, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession with intent to distribute anabolic steroids.   The trial of ARROYO and his co-defendants is set for March 23, 2009, before Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon. 

The federal and state cases are the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation involving the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Orleans Police Department.  Also assisting in the enforcement operations were the Louisiana State Police, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Kenner Police Department, and  St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. OCDETF is an important program which targets the most significant drug trafficking organizations within the United States as well as those outside of the United States borders that impact drug trafficking within the United States.

Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Jimmy S. Fox, III said,

“This investigation exemplifies the success of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) where various Federal, State and Local law enforcement entities work together to make our streets safer.  The task force did an exemplary job identifying and dismantling the entire drug trafficking organization from the street level dealers to the source of supply.” The DEA-led task force is an executive office of the President, ONDCP initiative of the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).

United States Attorney Jim Letten praised the law enforcement team for its relentless and untiring efforts to investigate narcotics trafficking in the Eastern District of Louisiana and elsewhere.