777 Florida Street, Suite 208 I appreciate the tremendous dedication and hard work by the agents and prosecutors who worked tirelessly on this important matter., DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael R. Sader said, Illegal dangerous drugs, including methamphetamine, destroy lives and have far-reaching negative effects in communities where they take hold. In 1986, Colombian hit men shot Seal to death at a Salvation Army halfway house in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The numerous arrests and seizures in this investigation are the result of our close cooperation and part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that drug traffickers are held responsible for the harm they cause. "It's quite the oxymoron when police officers have quite the reputation within these communities that they are sworn to protect and individuals can call them by names for having done things that are improper, illegal and violate the community's constitutional rights.". Escobar was killed in 1993. As another example, evidence at trial showed that Perry solicited the assistance of Mark Allen to rob another individual who had been supplying him with kilogram amounts of cocaine. As we strive to strengthen trust in our community, the Baton Rouge Police Department is committed to transparency, accountability, and integrity. BATON ROUGE, LA - United States Attorney Walt Green announced today the unsealing of a series of federal grand jury indictments in Operation I Spy, an extensive investigation into a drug trafficking network operating in the Baton Rouge region. A recent Clint Eastwood movie, The Mule, about an elderly drug runner for the cartels, has its roots in a New York Times Magazine article regarding Leo Sharp, a World War II Army veteran with no previous criminal record, who was imprisoned for his role in trafficking narcotics as a Sinaloa cartel carrier, or mule. Called Tata (the grandfather), Sharp is thought to have earned more than $1 million for his hauls in 2010. As a result of this investigation, 19 defendants have been convicted, 10 have been sentenced and one is scheduled for jury trial in February of 2021. This lengthy sentence sends a message of our unending resolve to pursue drug traffickers who wreak havoc in our communities.. Bell, 25; Michael C. Finley, 43; and Eric ONeal Selders, 42. "We made an arrest relative to a large quantity of marijuana. INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: Rape victim ordered to pay her abuser child support. "Ardoin said the direction came from supervisors in the narcotics administration. Have a question about Government Services? United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Shanard Zelron Banks, age 32, to 181 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, unlawful use of a communication facility, and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced the sentencing of Victor Welton, age 49, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as part of Operation Going Bacc to Cali, an extensive federal United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Ashton Matta, age 33, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 228 months in federal prison Middle District of Louisiana MACHADO-GALEANA, with the assistance of Alexander P. Nava, distributed methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana to various dealers in the Baton Rouge and Laplace, Louisiana areas. Officers were on patrol on Wednesday at 7:30pm on North 35th St. when they try pulling over Demon Sanders, 25, for not wearing a seatbelt, but officers said Sanders refused to stop. He stopped and listened. "They realized I had spoken to administration and it could possibly cause them from being moved out of the division," Ardoin said. Universal, Deborah Seal and her children argued in the case that they merely exercised their free speech rights in an issue of public interest. This OCDETF operation is being handled by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Louisiana; the Baton Rouge District Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Baton Rouge Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives. Authorities said one person was taken to a hospital with BATON ROUGE - The new City-Parish garbage, recycling, Deputies bust drug ring, 3 people arrested and one person at large. Since my time as Mayor, I have worked hard to build public trust with the Baton Rouge Police Department. This operation is being handled by the U.S. Attorneys Office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriffs Office, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Baton Rouge City Police Department, the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriffs Office, and the Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS UPDATE: Martrell Harris was arrested March 2021 on first-degree murder charges. These two young men died later that day as a result of burns they sustained from the arson they had committed. The DEA says the group was responsible for putting out about 40 kilos of cocaine a month on the Baton Rouge streets. If you can curtail the demand north of the border, the thinking goes, then cartel money-making and mayhem will fall off. LAPLACE - Clyde Richards Jr., described by St. John Parish narcoticsagents as the "kingpin" in organized cocaine distribution locally, was apprehended in Baton Rouge thanks to a newspaper article. The lengthy sentencing of this defendant should be taken as a message to those who want to sell drugs. NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by the Grand Jury. Crash involving car, train shuts down Essen Lane. WATCH WBRZ NEWS 2 AT 6:00 AND 10:00 WEDNESDAY FOR A TWO-PART INVESTIGATION STREAM THE NEWS LIVE HERE. - Shot on north Foster on Satuday night. In addition to American Made, Seal was portrayed by actor Dennis Hopper in the 1991 television movie Double-crossed.. We will continue to work tirelessly to seek justice on behalf of the American people., DEA will continue to attack the scourge of illegal drug distribution in Baton Rouge and beyond, said DEA Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Arnett. He said, it included him hearing colleagues discussing planting drugs on people. This life sentence is a resounding statement to the citizens of the Greater Baton Rouge area from DEA and the rest of our law enforcement partners that enough is enough. Operation I Spy is being handled by the U.S. Attorneys Office, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Baton Rouge Police Department with assistance from the sheriffs offices in East and West Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes, State Police, Gonzales Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. The OCDETF Program operates nationwide and combines the resources and unique expertise of numerous federal, state, and local agencies in a coordinated attack against major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. There was a large dead dog there of the kind hed seen crossing the floodplain. ", When the responding officers, whose names have been concealed, tried arresting Terrell, he "attempted to tackle the detective bear hugging him. WBRZ has made an editorial decision to not identify them because they have not been accused of any wrongdoing as of April 28, 2021. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Tom Cruise portrays Baton Rougedrug smuggler-turned-government informant Adler Barry Seal in the movie "American Made.". U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Louisiana, Leader of Baton Rouge-Based "FreeBandz" Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 181 Months in Federal Prison, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, Federal Jury Convicts Baton Rouge Man of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Marijuana, and Methamphetamine, Member of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 235 Months in Federal Prison for Drug Offense, Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to 228 Months in Federal Prison for Gun, Drug, and Possession of Contraband in Prison Charges, Leader of Baton Rouge Based "FreeBandz" Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced To 181 Months In Federal Prison. HAMMOND, La. Follow Joe Gyan Jr. on Twitter, @JoeGyanJr. He walked around the end of the truck. The OCDETF Program operates nationwide and combines the resources and unique expertise of numerous federal, state, and local agencies in a coordinated attack against major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. He served as press secretary for Nevada Governor Bob Miller, and was political editor at the Las Vegas Sun and managing editor at KFSM-TV, the CBS affiliate in Northwest Arkansas. An official website of the United States government. As the Court found, Perry often used violence. If the investigation determines the allegations are true, then those responsible for wrongdoing must be held accountable. Ardoin said not long after the August meeting, he requested a transfer. Today, the OCDETF Program is the centerpiece of the United States Attorney Generals drug strategy to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations and money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises. Lock Maybe a couple thousand.. Maughan said he disagrees with the conclusion that all rights flow from legislation. Mary Ellen Roy, an attorney for Universal, declined comment Friday. Then, in December 2020, he was arrested. Its hard to say how much of this is because of the power of the drug cartels, the narrator says, and how much is because rampant corruption also means there is a lot of impunity.. L'Jean McKneely. A sentencing hearing for the 61-year-old El Chapo, who is expected to spend the rest of his life in a U.S. maximum-security prison, is set for June. WBRZ interviewed an eye witness last night wh ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. "At least three to four nights a week they would have us riding through the neighborhoods," Ardoin said. Agents say 33-year-old Dwayne Terrell of Baton Rouge, who didn't even finish . The OCDETF Program operates nationwide and combines the resources and unique expertise of numerous federal, state, and local agencies in a coordinated attack against major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Prosecutors are trying to determine how far back they have to go to take a look at charges that need to be dismissed. Adler "Barry" Seal's third wife and the three children she had with him did not violate the slain drug smuggler-turned-government informant's privacy rights when they sold the story of his life to a major motion picture studio in 2014, a state appellate court has decided. Police are still working to track down Harris, whose living address is listed as an upscale home in Spring, Texas. She also claimed a violation of the right of privacy. They gave 9News pictures saying officers ransacked their home, damaging a laundry door, their front door and a rap studio. The Court further sentenced Banks to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered that the firearms involved be forfeited along with $20,000 and a 2011 Porsche Panamera that he purchased using drug trafficking proceeds. "When there's a violator, somebody who's committed a crime, if they run inside of a home and we're in pursuit of that particular individual, we are allowed to go inside," said Cpl. In the novel, McCarthy, a National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize winner, sets up the initial death scene confronting the hunter: In the first vehicle there was a man slumped dead over the wheel. Crash involving car, train shuts down Essen Lane. He don't smoke baby. Frigon alleged in her suit that Seal's widow and her children sold Barry Seal's life story rights to Universal without court approval or the estate's consent. The defendant was then tased and taken into custody.". "Ardoin said others within the narcotics division also witnessed this, but he was the only one who spoke up. While Guzman has been at the center of news coverage lately, stories about violent drug trafficking in general have unfolded for some time, focusing not only on El Chapo but on others such as Colombias Pablo Escobar. 1 LSU baseball over Texas. The Baton Rouge Police Department says Martrell Harris, 42, is wanted for second-degree murder in the killing of Lorenzo Dixon, who was fatally shot on Winbourne Avenue in April 2017. Seal had infiltrated the Medellin cartel and agreed to cooperate with U.S. authorities after his own 1983 arrest on drug charges in Florida. During that raid, an AK-47 assault rifle and 1,000 rounds ofammunition were recovered, along with large quantities of crack cocaine and marijuana. The drug trafficking operation formed in or before 2016 and continued until it was disrupted by law enforcement intervention in 2018. WATCH. WAFB asked Marcelle if drugs were sold out of the home. These pills were then imprinted with various marks, including several for controlled substance pharmaceuticals. "It was two Ring floodlight cameras and a TV," Ardoin said. During their investigation, law enforcement agents recovered a .380 caliber Taurus revolver, a .556 caliber Smith & Wesson semi-automatic rifle, and five semi-automatic pistols of varying calibers from a number of residences and commercial premises that were used to store drugs and drug proceeds, and to conduct drug transactions. Baton Rouge, LA 70801, Telephone: 225-389-0443 This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Kleinpeter, who also serves as a deputy criminal chief. St. Johns batted around in Watch the 2 Your Health report for Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. "It was about $500. Of the 1,451 journalists and media workers killed around the world since 1992 in which a motive has been confirmed, 48 were in Mexico, the CPJ website notes. Nine alleged members of a cocaine trafficking organization, including seven from Baton Rouge, have been charged by a federal grand jury, U.S. Attorney Walt Green said Friday. ", DEA Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Joseph W. Shepherd stated, "Perry and his cohorts, through violence, intimidation, and domestic drug trafficking attempted to hold this community hostage. Among his concerns, a quota system that targeted minorities. Fax Line: 225-389-0561 BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Actions of Baton Rouge Police Dept. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY DAVID JAMES/UNIVERSAL PICTURES, Slain drug smuggler Barry Seal's daughter sues to halt movie, 'American Made,' on fathers life, Drug smuggler Barry Seals family argues in Baton Rouge court over contract with movie studio to film story of his life, Man who gunned down drug informant Barry Seal in Baton Rouge street dies at Angola, Dismissal of Barry Seal movie rights lawsuit affirmed by Louisiana high court. BATON ROUGE - One person was hurt in a shooting Wednesday evening along Burbank Drive. "He told investigators he watched his colleague, Jason Acree, steal drugs from the evidence room. Thirteen thousand? El Chapo (Shorty) supposedly replied. That's when he said he was approached by a woman who sold him two cameras and a television. What he said in a TV interview has only been heard directly from a small group: The FBI, the Baton Rouge Police Chief and Nakamoto. Lock A lawsuit that claimed slain drug smuggler-turned-government informant Adler Barry Seals privacy rights were violated and his public imag. Two years before his death, Seal was indicted for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 462 pounds of cocaine with a street value of $168 million. BATON ROUGE, La. All rights reserved. He was expected to be a key witness in a case against Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, among others. Jailed after a manhunt, the drug kingpin known globally as El Chapo expressed genuine surprise several years ago when interrogators from the Mexican attorney generals office blamed 13,000 homicides on him. Fax Line: 225-389-0561 "We normally ride two people to a vehicle and each person had to have one arrest before the end of the shift," Ardoin said. Huge 4th inning powers St. John's past Southeastern. Feedback or questions? Evidence at trial showed that, from August 2006 until September 2011, Perry led a drug-trafficking endeavor within Baton Rouge operating largely on Evergreen Street, Louisiana Street, and Delphine Street, which distributed kilogram and multi-ounce amounts of cocaine and "crack"cocaine. Official websites use .gov "He's made comments about planting drugs on other people when he arrested them," Ardoin said. Lock Warrants filed this week described Harris as the head of an extremely violent group of large-scale narcotics traffickers. Beefier police presence planned at football game after BRPD chief got into scuffle while making arrest near campus. Against this backdrop, a federal court jury in Brooklyn found El Chapo guilty in February of 10 felony counts, including conspiracy to commit murder and international distribution of illegal drugs. He did not give specifics at the time but did express concerns about squad operations. Screen rights to the book, published in 2018, have been acquired by Sony Pictures, according to news accounts. In Hogans true-crime book Hunting El Chapo, written with Douglas Century, the DEA agent repeats this story about the death toll, illustrating how El Chapo, a crime lord from northwestern Mexico whose real name is Joaquin Guzmn Loera, ruled with murderous intent in snuffing out rivals and quashing disloyalty. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert W. Piedrahita and Kevin Sanchez. Terrell also known as Ronrico Howard, Co, Shorty and Rico was indicted on charges of conspiracy, cocaine distribution and possession, unlawful use of a communications facility and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Meanwhile, Netflix, experiencing success with shows such as the crime series Narcos, recently announced it is opening an office in Mexico City. That same morning, officers executed a search warrant at MACHADO-GALEANAs residence in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where they seized a number of firearms, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Nearly a dozen follow-up reports are part of the exclusive reporting from Channel 2. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. "As time went on, I started looking into things," Ardoin said. U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Louisiana, Multi-State Drug Trafficking Organization Indicted Again In Operation Armageddon, Mississippi Man Sentenced to 150 Months in Federal Prison for Scheme to Fraudulently Obtain Off-Road Vehicles Valued at More Than $750,000 and Other Federal Offenses, Greensburg Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of Dogs for Animal Fighting, Walker Man Faces Federal Charges in Connection with Interstate Transmission of a Threat to Injure Florida Congresswoman, Multi State Drug Trafficking Organization Indicted Again In Operation Armageddon. Larry Henry is a veteran print and broadcast journalist. The Mob in Pop Culture blog appears monthly. Once inside 1336 N. 36th street, officers wrote in their report, "There was a strong odor of burning marijuana in the residence with a visible smoke cloud." The Baton Rouge Police Department says Martrell Harris, 42, is wanted for second-degree murder in the killing of Lorenzo Dixon, who was fatally shot on Winbourne Avenue in April 2017. McKneely. Some link changes in weather with body aches Gavin Dugas' 9th inning homer lifts No. In a podcast series titled Chapo: Kingpin on Trial, Vice Media reports that four people per hour are slain in Mexico, the highest murder rate in the country in decades. McKneely said officers saw Sanders with a bag containing what they believe was marijuana. Mexico, recently showed up at the drug kingpin's trial in New York, waiting in the cold with others to get inside. Among the alleged hitmen was Dexter Collins, who was arrested last week for that hit plus a separate killing of a possible murder witness in Sept. 2017. I received initial warnings that someone in the government wanted to sanction me, even that someone wanted to have me killed, she is quoted as saying in an article published by The Guardian. Moore has told the WBRZ Investigative Unit figuring out when the corruption first began is challenging. "The supervisors in the office were the ones that allowed him to do those things, and I believe they were aware of the things going on," Ardoin said. The counterfeit pills were tainted with undisclosed amounts of heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl analogues, clonazolam, and other controlled substances that Banks co-conspirator obtained from sources located in Houston, Texas, and Los Angeles, California. She is among many journalists who have put their lives on the line to report on the cartels. Some link changes in weather with body aches Gavin Dugas' 9th inning homer lifts No. Have a question about Government Services? After he packaged it, he resealed the vacuumed sealed baggie with evidence tape, and he took the drugs and had taken them outside to his unit. The indictments are part of Operation I Spy, an extensive investigation into a drug trafficking network operating in the Baton Rouge region, Green said. Convictions could carry lengthy prison sentences and hefty fines. Today, the OCDETF Program is the centerpiece of the United States Attorney Generals drug strategy to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, money laundering organizations, and related criminal enterprises. Civil Fax: 225-389-0685. AUSTIN, Texas A scoreless tie was broken in the 9th inning with a three-run homer by second baseman Gavin Dugas, lifting top-ranked LSU to a John Jancek promoted to LSU special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach. Thereafter, Banks and his co-conspirators distributed the counterfeit pills to others for further distribution in Baton Rouge, Mississippi, the New Orleans metropolitan area, and elsewhere. PONCHATOULA- It's one of the most egregious cases victims' advocates tell the WBRZ Investigative Unit they have ever seen, after a judge awarded full custody to How do I know if I have a cold, the flu or COVID-19? Violent drug dealer sentenced to life in prison, ordered to forfeit more than $10M. Ronrico Terrell had 13 different charges that night alone. United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced the sentencing of Victor Welton, age 49, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as part of Operation Going Bacc to Cali, an extensive federal United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Ashton Matta, age 33, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 228 months in federal prison Middle District of Louisiana Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. In 2017, Seal's life became the subject of a second Hollywood adaptation titled American Made and starred Tom Cruise. In 1986, Colombian hit men shot Seal to death at a Salvation Army halfway house in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 2017, filmmaker Oliver Stone focused on drug trafficking in his movie Savages about two youthful California drug dealers and their girlfriend.