Press Releases
IVORY “B-STUPID” HARRIS PLEADS
GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT
June 21, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today, IVORY BRANDON HARRIS, aka “B-Stupid”, a 22 years old New Orleans resident, pled guilty in federal court to federal drug trafficking and firearms charges, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
As part of this plea agreement, HARRIS also agreed to plead guilty in state court to his participation in the killing of Jermaine Wise, aka “Manny”. HARRIS will spend the next twenty five (25) years in federal prison.
According to court documents, on March 19, 2006, pursuant to an Orleans Parish arrest warrant for the murder of Jermaine Wise, and a Harris County, Texas arrest warrant for robbery and kidnapping charges, HARRIS was arrested by members of the New Orleans and Kenner Police Departments at an apartment in Kenner, Louisiana. A second subject, Calvert Magee, aka “Soulja” was also arrested in the apartment pursuant to a warrant. Additionally, law enforcement officers found crack cocaine, heroin, and several firearms in the residence. During a follow-up investigation, Special Agents with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) learned that Magee induced a known female to rent the apartment so that HARRIS and Magee’s names would not appear on the lease.
ATF Agents also learned that, while in jail on these charges, HARRIS was speaking to Magee on a regular basis via a cell phone that Magee had smuggled into jail and agents were able obtain numerous telephone calls that HARRIS made on the prison phones. During one of these phone calls HARRIS and Magee discussed pictures and other information that some of their friends, family, and associates put on the website “MYSPACE.” In one of the calls HARRIS states “If the feds find the stuff on MySpace, they will convict me of RICO”.
Agents found a “MySpace” Web Site called “K-UNIT”, and obtained numerous pictures, including photos showing HARRIS holding cash in his hands with the caption “we movin keys and taking over the blocks”, and another photo showing HARRIS, holding a gun and cell phone while wearing a shirt with a picture of Jermaine Wise that read “rest in peace.” It was also learned that both HARRIS and Magee had “K-Unit” tattoos on their bodies.
Agents also discovered several phone calls in which HARRIS was asking associates to find the witness who identified him as being involved in the killing of Jermaine Wise. According to the phone calls, the associates could not find the witness and stated that she was like “Casper the ghost”, meaning that they could not find her. Based on these threats, the witness was relocated by law enforcement authorities and is now safe.
In federal court, HARRIS pled guilty to federal drug conspiracy and weapons charges. He faced a minimum sentence of fifteen (15) years up to life imprisonment. Pursuant to this plea agreement, HARRIS will be sentenced to twenty-five (25) years imprisonment.
In state court, HARRIS was facing a mandatory life sentence if convicted of second degree murder. The charge of manslaughter carries a maximum of 40 years. Magee has a pending trial date in federal court in July, 2007.
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives along with members of the New Orleans Police Department and the Kenner Police Department.
U. S. Attorney Jim Letten specifically wanted to thank the ATF Special Agents and members of the New Orleans and Kenner Police Departments who worked together to build a strong federal case against one of the city’s most notorious criminals. Letten also expressed appreciation to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Department, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office in Texas, and the Louisiana State Attorney General’s Office for their cooperation and hard work on this investigation.
This prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr.
