Acting United States Attorney April M. Leon announced the sentencing of five individuals by U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick. This was in connection with an investigation by the Middle District Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) targeting a drug trafficking network in Iberville Parish.
Barold Raven, 47, from St. Gabriel, Louisiana, received a sentence of 120 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm related to drug trafficking. He will also serve five years of supervised release after his imprisonment.
Dedrick Ambeau, 44, also from St. Gabriel, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and distribution of heroin. His sentence includes three years of supervised release.
Jake Henry Gordon III, 46, from Greenwell Springs, Louisiana, was sentenced to 24 months for conspiracy to distribute heroin and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He will serve three years of supervised release following his imprisonment.
Leo Sternfels, 65, from Gonzales, Louisiana, received a sentence of 12 months and one day for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. He will also have three years of supervised release.
In a related case, Charles J. Alexander Jr., 40, from St. Gabriel, Louisiana, was sentenced to 180 months for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. His sentence includes three years of supervised release.
The defendants admitted their involvement in distributing cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine between February 2019 and October 2019 across several parishes including Iberville and East Baton Rouge.
The investigation involved multiple agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration and local police departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William K. Morris.
This operation is part of the OCDETF program which aims to dismantle high-level criminal organizations using a coordinated approach involving multiple agencies.