Field News Press Release - October 08, 2003

Jim Letten, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and Louis M. Riegel, III, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent, and Edwin Compass, Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department, announced today that eight men were arrested this morning pursuant to a federal indictment for conspiring to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin, as well as charges against individual defendants for weapons violations and identity theft. One of the defendants charged in the conspiracy, DARRICK THOMPSON, is a New Orleans Police officer. Seven others were charged but have not been arrested.

A Federal Grand Jury returned an indictment Friday, October, 3, 2003 against DONALD BUTLER, of New Orleans, Louisiana; DARRYL BROWN, of New Orleans, Louisiana; DWIGHT LABRAN, of New Orleans, Louisiana; DEREK DAVIS, of New Orleans, Louisiana; DARRICK THOMPSON, of New Orleans, Louisiana; LEIGHLAN HURST, of New Orleans, Louisiana; JEFFREY DAVIS, of New Orleans, Louisiana; AUGUST PUSATERI, of New Orleans, Louisiana; EDMOND BACCHUS, III, of New Orleans, Louisiana; CURTIS HARRIS, of New Orleans, Louisiana; KEVIN REESE, of New Orleans, Louisiana; KENTRELL ALEXANDER, of New Orleans, Louisiana; and ERIC BELL, of Gretna, Louisiana, for conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine, 500 grams or more of powder cocaine and 100 grams or more of heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846. Counts 2 through 8 of the indictment charge DONALD BUTLER with distribution of crack cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1). Count 9 charges KENTRELL ALEXANDER with possession with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1). Count 10 charges KENTRELL ALEXANDER with possession of firearms, a Glock .40 caliber pistol, and a Calico Liberty 50, 9mm assault weapon, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). Counts 11 through 14 charge KEVIN REESE with distribution of heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1). Count 12 charges DARRYL BROWN with identity theft, using Social Security numbers to commit theft in furtherance of drug trafficking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1028(a)(7) and 1028(b)(3)(A). DARRYL BROWN is charged with providing cellular telephones to the drug trafficking organizations, telephones which were subscribed to the names of individuals whose identities were stolen. Arrest warrants were also issued, on charges related to the indictment, for FRANKIE BELL, of New Orleans; and TEDDY JACKSON, of New Orleans, for conspiracy to distribute heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846.

All of the defendants except LEIGHLAN HURST, JEFFREY DAVIS, FRANKIE BELL, EDMOND BACCHUS, III, KEVIN REESE, KENTRELL ALEXANDER and DWIGHT LABRAN were arrested this morning. They remain at large.

If convicted, each defendant named in the indictment faces a mandatory minimum penalty of ten (10) years imprisonment, a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a maximum $4 million fine for Count 1. Counts 2 and 9 also each carry a mandatory minimum penalty of ten (10) years imprisonment, a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a maximum $4 million fine. Counts 3 through 8 each carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five (5) years imprisonment, a maximum penalty of forty imprisonment and a maximum $2 million fine. Count 10 carries a mandatory five (5) years consecutive to the sentence in Count 1. Counts 11 through 14 carry a maximum penalty of twenty (20) years and a maximum $1 million fine. Count 15 carries a maximum penalty of twenty-five (25) years and a maximum $250,000 fine. The charges in the complaints issued against FRANKIE BELL and TEDDY JACKSON carry a maximum penalty of twenty (20) years and a maximum $1 million fine.

U. S. Attorney Letten stated that the indictment is only a method of bringing charges and the defendants' guilt must be proven at trial beyond a reasonable doubt. Letten further stated that this indictment reiterates the commitment of the U. S. Attorney's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department to work together in a seamless partnership to cripple and ultimately eradicate the illegal drug trade in New Orleans. U. S. Attorney Letten and Special Agent in Charge Riegel also offered their gratitude to Superintendent Compass, the New Orleans Police Department and the NOPD's Public Integrity Bureau for their continuing support and dedication to eliminating corruption.

This matter was investigated by the Gang Task Force of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Public Integrity Division of the New Orleans Police Department handled the investigation against police officer DARRICK THOMPSON. This matter will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tania C. Tetlow.