MULTI-AGENCY
DRUG TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATION RESULTS IN INDICTMENTS
United States Attorney David
R. Dugas announced the unsealing of indictments issued by federal grand
juries between September of 2002 and May of 2003 as a result of OCDETF
"Operation Escalade," a multi-agency investigation into alleged
drug trafficking activities in the Baton Rouge area.
On September 5, 2002 a federal
grand jury indicted Kenneth R. Jones, Jason Geriod Jackson and Warren
Lee Smith on the charge of conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams
of cocaine and more than 50 grams of cocaine base. If convicted, the
defendants face a maximum sentence of imprisonment of not less than
10 years or more than life, a fine of $4,000,000 or both. Jackson pled
guilty as charged on March 5, 2003. Smith pled guilty as charged on
March 19, 2003. Both are awaiting sentencing. Kenneth Jones is awaiting
trial.
On December 19, 2002 a federal grand jury returned a five count indictment
against Rodney D. Jones. Counts 1 and 2 charged Jones with illegal possession
of firearms by a convicted felon; Counts 3 and 4 charged Jones with
illegal possession of ammunition by a convicted felon; Count 5 charged
Jones with distribution of cocaine base. On May 14, 2003, a two count
Bill of Information was filed against Rodney D. Jones. Count 1 charged
Jones with conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and
50 grams or more of cocaine base. The Bill of Information also contained
Forfeiture Allegations seeking the forfeiture of a 2002 Cadillac Escalade
and a 1997 Mercedes automobile, both of which were alleged to be obtained
from proceeds of the drug trafficking conspiracy. On May 14, 2003 Jones
pled guilty as charged to all counts in the Indictment and in the Bill
of Information and is awaiting sentencing. The maximum sentences that
may be imposed for Counts 1 through 4 of the Indictment are sentences
of imprisonment of not more than 10 years, a fine of $250,000 or both.
The maximum sentence that may be imposed for Count 5 of the indictment
is a sentence of imprisonment of not more than 20 years, a fine of $1,000,000
or both. The maximum sentence that may be imposed for Count 1 of the
Bill of Information is a sentence of imprisonment of not less than 10
years or more than life, a fine of $4,000,000 or both.
On February 26, 2003 a federal grand jury indicted Rodney C. Vincent
and Bryan K. McCall on one count, which alleged that between January
22, 2003 and February 7, 2003, Rodney Vincent, aided and abetted by
Bryan McCall, offered $1,000 to a public official with the intent to
induce the public official to disclose confidential and non-public reports
concerning a federal grand jury investigation into alleged illegal drug
trafficking activities of Vincent and others. The indictment followed
a criminal complaint filed against Rodney C. Vincent on February 10,
2003 by Special Agent Christian Ladner of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (ATF). If convicted the defendants could face
a maximum sentence of imprisonment of not more than 15 years. McCall
pled guilty as charged on March 19, 2003 and is awaiting sentencing.
Vincent is awaiting trial.
In each case, the actual sentence imposed in the event of conviction
would be determined by the Court in accordance with the United States
Sentencing Guidelines.
The cases were investigated by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement
Task Force (OCDETF) for the Middle District of Louisiana. The OCDETF
is a multi-agency task force formed to investigate and prosecute criminal
groups and individuals who are engaged in high level drug trafficking
and related money laundering.
The OCDETF for the Middle District of Louisiana is comprised of agents
from the Baton Rouge Resident Offices of the Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Internal Revenue
Service-Criminal Investigation Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U. S. Marshal's Service, The U. S.
Postal Inspection Service, the U. S. Border Patrol and the United States
Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE), formerly the U. S. Customs Service.
The initiating agency for Operation Escalade was ATF. Other participating
members of the OCDETF for the Middle District include the Baton Rouge
Police Department, the Louisiana State Police and the East Baton Rouge
Parish Sheriff's Office. The OCDETF investigations were coordinated
by the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Louisiana,
with AUSA Fred Menner serving as the lead OCDETF prosecutor on the case.
NOTE: An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is
probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by the defendants.
The defendants, of course, are presumed innocent until and unless they
are proven guilty at trial. DEFENDANT INFORMATION
1. Warren Lee Smith
Age: 48 years
Address: 312 Mary St.
Baton Rouge, LA
2. Jason Jackson
Age: 20 years
Address: 5420 Smith St.
St. Gabriel, LA
3. Rodney Vincent
Age: 30 years
Address: 15321 Woodmoss Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA
4. Bryan Keith McCall
Age: 32 years
Address: 7250 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA
5. Rodney Jones
Age: 28 years
Address: 4778 Elmwood St.
Baton Rouge, LA
6. Kenneth Jones
Age: 27 years
Address: 2645 Adams Ave.
Baton Rouge, LA
Field
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