A Shreveport man was sentenced to 264 months in prison and eight years of supervised release for his role in a Shreveport cocaine distribution conspiracy.
Quacy L. Francis, 38, of Shreveport was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter for one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base. According to evidence presented at the guilty pleas in January 2014, Francis and others conspired to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base in the Shreveport area from November 2012 to May 2013. The FBI conducted three controlled purchases of cocaine, both crack and powder, from Francis. Francis purchased cocaine from Michael T. Johnson, 40, of Shreveport, and others to be distributed in the Shreveport area. Lemarcus Miller, 32, and Demarkus Miller, 32, both from Shreveport, were also part of the conspiracy.
Demarkus Miller and Lemarcus Miller were each sentenced to 60 months in prison and four years of supervised release on March 27, 2014 and May 16, 2014 respectively. Johnson was sentenced to 120 months in prison and eight years of supervised release on April 28, 2014.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Kai Bird, author of The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames, Appears Tonight on Crime Beat Radio
Kai Bird, author of The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames, Appears Tonight on Crime Beat Radio.
April 18, 1983, a bomb exploded outside the American Embassy in Beirut, killing 63 people. The attack was a geopolitical turning point. It marked the beginning of Hezbollah as a political force, but even more important, it eliminated America’s most influential and effective intelligence officer in the Middle East – CIA operative Robert Ames. What set Ames apart from his peers was his extraordinary ability to form deep, meaningful connections with key Arab intelligence figures. Some operatives relied on threats and subterfuge, but Ames worked by building friendships and emphasizing shared values – never more notably than with Yasir Arafat’s charismatic intelligence chief and heir apparent Ali Hassan Salameh (aka “The Red Prince”). Ames’ deepening relationship with Salameh held the potential for a lasting peace. Within a few years, though, both men were killed by assassins, and America’s relations with the Arab world began heading down a path that culminated in 9/11, the War on Terror, and the current fog of mistrust
Crime Beat is a weekly hour-long radio program that airs every Thursday at 8 p.m. EST. Crime Beat presents fascinating topics that bring listeners closer to the dynamic underbelly of the world of crime. Guests have included ex-mobsters, undercover law enforcement agents, sports officials, informants, prisoners, drug dealers and investigative journalists, who have provided insights and fresh information about the world’s most fascinating subject: crime.
April 18, 1983, a bomb exploded outside the American Embassy in Beirut, killing 63 people. The attack was a geopolitical turning point. It marked the beginning of Hezbollah as a political force, but even more important, it eliminated America’s most influential and effective intelligence officer in the Middle East – CIA operative Robert Ames. What set Ames apart from his peers was his extraordinary ability to form deep, meaningful connections with key Arab intelligence figures. Some operatives relied on threats and subterfuge, but Ames worked by building friendships and emphasizing shared values – never more notably than with Yasir Arafat’s charismatic intelligence chief and heir apparent Ali Hassan Salameh (aka “The Red Prince”). Ames’ deepening relationship with Salameh held the potential for a lasting peace. Within a few years, though, both men were killed by assassins, and America’s relations with the Arab world began heading down a path that culminated in 9/11, the War on Terror, and the current fog of mistrust
Crime Beat is a weekly hour-long radio program that airs every Thursday at 8 p.m. EST. Crime Beat presents fascinating topics that bring listeners closer to the dynamic underbelly of the world of crime. Guests have included ex-mobsters, undercover law enforcement agents, sports officials, informants, prisoners, drug dealers and investigative journalists, who have provided insights and fresh information about the world’s most fascinating subject: crime.
Wednesday, July 09, 2014
Two Aryan Brotherhood Gang Members Plead Guilty to Federal Racketeering Charges
Two Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) gang members have pleaded guilty to racketeering charges related to their membership in the ABT’s criminal enterprise, announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson of the Southern District of Texas.
Steven Worthey, of San Antonio, Texas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Sim Lake in the Southern District of Texas to one count of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity. James Lawrence Burns, aka “Chance,” of Dallas, Texas, pleaded guilty to the same charge on July 3, 2014.
According to court documents, Worthey, Burns and other ABT gang members and associates agreed to commit multiple acts of murder, robbery, arson, kidnapping and narcotics trafficking on behalf of the ABT gang. Worthey, Burns and numerous ABT gang members met on a regular basis at various locations throughout Texas to report on gang-related business, collect dues, commit disciplinary assaults against fellow gang members and discuss acts of violence against rival gang members, among other things.
By pleading guilty to racketeering charges, Worthey and Burns admitted to being members of the ABT criminal enterprise.
According to the superseding indictment, the ABT was established in the early 1980s within the Texas prison system. The gang modeled itself after and adopted many of the precepts and writings of the Aryan Brotherhood, a California-based prison gang that was formed in the California prison system during the 1960s. According to the superseding indictment, the ABT was primarily concerned with the protection of white inmates and white supremacy/separatism. Over time, the ABT expanded its criminal enterprise to include illegal activities for profit.
Court documents allege that the ABT enforced its rules and promoted discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, arson, assault, robbery and threats against those who violated the rules or posed a threat to the enterprise. Members, and oftentimes associates, were required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members, often referred to as “direct orders.”
According to the superseding indictment, in order to be considered for ABT membership, a person must be sponsored by another gang member. Once sponsored, a prospective member must serve an unspecified term, during which he is referred to as a prospect, while his conduct is observed by the members of the ABT.
Worthey and Burns are both scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 8, 2014. Each faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Worthey and Burns are two of 36 defendants charged with conducting racketeering activity through the ABT criminal enterprise, among other charges. To date, 32 defendants have pleaded guilty.
Former New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin Sentenced for Conspiracy, Bribery, Honest Services Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and Tax Violations
The former mayor of New Orleans, C. Ray Nagin, 58, a resident of Frisco, Texas, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison and ordered to pay $84,264 in restitution by United States District Judge Helen G. Berrigan of the Eastern District of Louisiana for conspiracy, bribery, honest services wire fraud, money laundering and tax violations, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. A preliminary order of forfeiture was signed by Judge Berrigan on May 27, 2014 in the amount of $501,200.56.
Nagin served as the Mayor of New Orleans from 2002 to 2010. A federal grand jury sitting in the Eastern District of Louisiana indicted Nagin on Jan. 18, 2013. Nagin stood trial from Jan. 27, 2014, to Feb. 12, 2014 when the jury found Nagin guilty on 20 of 21 counts in the indictment.
“Given the nature and extent of former Mayor Nagin’s criminal conduct and betrayal of public trust over the course of several years, hopefully this result will bring at least some level of resolution to the city and its residents,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Anderson of the New Orleans Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
“In February, a jury of New Orleans citizens sent Mr. Nagin the message, loud and clear, that public officials will be held accountable for public corruption and criminal activity,” said Chief Richard Weber, IRS-Criminal Investigation. “Today’s sentence confirms that message—public servants are elected to serve the public, not benefit from the position. No one is above the law, and IRS-Criminal Investigation will continue to investigate all financial crimes which undermine the public’s confidence in its elected officials.”
“NOLAOIG discovered financial discrepancies when it conducted an evaluation of the City’s Crime Camera System in 2009,” said Inspector General Ed Quatreveaux for the City of New Orleans. “The joint FBI-NOLAOIG investigation into those discrepancies eventually led to the convictions of Greg Meffert, Mark St. Pierre and the former mayor. NOLAOIG will continue its work to root out fraud and abuse in city operations to protect the city from those who would defraud it.”
“Ray Nagin’s sentencing brings to a close a sordid chapter in New Orleans’ history in which the man charged with leading a city out of crisis instead chose to enrich himself, his family and friends,” said Rafael C. Goyeneche III, President of the Metropolitan Crime Commission. “This case epitomizes the vital role the public plays in exposing corruption as information supplied by citizens through the Metropolitan Crime Commission aided the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office in bringing this case to a just conclusion.”
“Our elected officials are entrusted to place the interests of the citizens above their own,” said United States Attorney Kenneth Allen Polite Jr. “When they violate that trust and break the law, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will pursue them zealously and bring them to justice.”
Nagin served as the Mayor of New Orleans from 2002 to 2010. A federal grand jury sitting in the Eastern District of Louisiana indicted Nagin on Jan. 18, 2013. Nagin stood trial from Jan. 27, 2014, to Feb. 12, 2014 when the jury found Nagin guilty on 20 of 21 counts in the indictment.
“Given the nature and extent of former Mayor Nagin’s criminal conduct and betrayal of public trust over the course of several years, hopefully this result will bring at least some level of resolution to the city and its residents,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Anderson of the New Orleans Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
“In February, a jury of New Orleans citizens sent Mr. Nagin the message, loud and clear, that public officials will be held accountable for public corruption and criminal activity,” said Chief Richard Weber, IRS-Criminal Investigation. “Today’s sentence confirms that message—public servants are elected to serve the public, not benefit from the position. No one is above the law, and IRS-Criminal Investigation will continue to investigate all financial crimes which undermine the public’s confidence in its elected officials.”
“NOLAOIG discovered financial discrepancies when it conducted an evaluation of the City’s Crime Camera System in 2009,” said Inspector General Ed Quatreveaux for the City of New Orleans. “The joint FBI-NOLAOIG investigation into those discrepancies eventually led to the convictions of Greg Meffert, Mark St. Pierre and the former mayor. NOLAOIG will continue its work to root out fraud and abuse in city operations to protect the city from those who would defraud it.”
“Ray Nagin’s sentencing brings to a close a sordid chapter in New Orleans’ history in which the man charged with leading a city out of crisis instead chose to enrich himself, his family and friends,” said Rafael C. Goyeneche III, President of the Metropolitan Crime Commission. “This case epitomizes the vital role the public plays in exposing corruption as information supplied by citizens through the Metropolitan Crime Commission aided the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office in bringing this case to a just conclusion.”
“Our elected officials are entrusted to place the interests of the citizens above their own,” said United States Attorney Kenneth Allen Polite Jr. “When they violate that trust and break the law, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will pursue them zealously and bring them to justice.”
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