DARRYL SHIELDS age 24, of New Orleans, Louisiana was sentenced to life imprisonment by U. S. District Court Judge Martin L.C. Feldman. SHIELDS pled guilty to Counts 1, 2, 6 and 12 of a Federal Superseding Indictment, which called for a term of life imprisonment.

Count 1 charged SHIELDS with participating in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (“RICO”) conspiracy. Count 2 charged SHIELDS with conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”), a quantity of cocaine hydrochloride, heroin, and marijuana. Count 6 charged SHIELDS with murder in aid of racketeering, when Ronnie Meade was killed. Count 12 charged SHIELDS with murder in aid of racketeering, when Herbert Lane was killed.

This prosecution arose from an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) that targeted an area in New Orleans which exhibited a disproportionate amount of violent crimes and narcotics trafficking. During the course of the investigation, specific individuals were identified as the main perpetrators of many of the violent acts and the narcotics distribution. The superseding indictment charged MICHAEL ANDERSON, HAROLD JONES, THERON JONES, JEREMIAH MILLRO, COREY OLIVER, DARRYL SHIELDS, JEROME SIMMONS and TONY SIMMONS, for their involvement in a racketeering enterprise, sometimes referred to as the “Josephine Dog Pound.” All members of the organization engaged in, among other things, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances, murder, conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder.

All eight defendants have pled guilty.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and by the New Orleans Police Department, and is prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Privitera.

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