Derrick Washington, also known as "Eyes," a 53-year-old resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on January 29, 2025. U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo handed down the sentence after Washington pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine hydrochloride. U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Washington received a sentence of 63 months in prison, four years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Court documents revealed that Washington and his co-conspirators were involved in distributing large quantities of cocaine within the Eastern District of Louisiana. During the investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), authorities seized more than 40 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride, over $700,000 in cash, and other assets.
The prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF focuses on identifying and dismantling high-level drug traffickers and criminal organizations through a multi-agency approach involving federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
The investigation was spearheaded by the DEA's New Orleans Field Division Office with assistance from several law enforcement bodies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Border Patrol, Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, Kenner Police Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. John’s Parish Sheriff’s Office, Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, and New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman from the Narcotics Unit managed the prosecution.