STEVEN EARL HARDRICK, age 27, of New Orleans, Louisiana was charged by a federal grand jury in a 17-count superseding indictment on Thursday, March 15, 2012, with violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act, Federal Firearms Laws, carjacking, witness tampering and murder, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten and Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer.

The superseding indictment charges HARDRICK, with the October 1, 2007, murder of Dwayne Landry, the October 13, 2007, home invasion, shooting and killing of off-duty New Orleans Police Officer Thelonius Dukes, and the October 24, 2007, carjacking and murder of Brett Jacobs, David Alford, and Howard Pickens.

According to the superseding indictment, HARDRICK conspired to possess with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances. He did so by obtaining drugs through force and violence, as well as firearms, which he then used to facilitate the theft or robbery of the drugs. The superseding indictment alleges that in all three incidents, HARDRICK obtained firearms, and that in two of the incidents he attempted to obtain drugs. In the murders of October 24, 2007, the superseding indictment alleges that Howard Pickens was killed to prevent him from reporting information about the carjacking which resulted in the murders of Brett Jacobs and David Alford.

U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The superseding indictment includes offenses with a maximum penalty of death.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau Investigation Violent Crime Task Force, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Duane A. Evans and Elizabeth Privitera, and Trial Attorney Laura Gwinn of the Organized Crime and Gang Section in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

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