Press Releases
FEDERAL JURY RETURNS GUILTY VERDICT ON FIREARMS AND DRUG CHARGES
July 25, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHAD JAMES, age 34, a resident of Thibodaux, Louisiana, was convicted by a federal jury sitting in New Orleans of possession with intent to distribute five (5) grams or more of cocaine base (crack); possession with intent to distribute amounts of cocaine hydrochloride; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm in violation of then Federal Controlled Substances Act and the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
JAMES faces the following maximum possible penalties: 1) not less than ten (10) years and up to life imprisonment and a fine of up to $2,000,000 for his conviction for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; 2) up to thirty (30) years imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for his conviction for possession with intent to distribute amounts of cocaine hydrochloride; 3) a minimum five (5) years imprisonment consecutive to the sentences for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and cocaine hydrochloride and fine of up to $250,000 for his conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; and 4) up to ten (10) years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000 for his conviction for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Sentencing for JAMES is scheduled for November 1, 2007, before the Honorable Martin L.C. Feldman.
According to court records, on January 12, 2006, during the arrest of JAMES on an outstanding state parole warrant at his apartment, Thibodaux City Police officers discovered amounts of cocaine hydrochloride and a loaded, Remington 12 gauge shotgun. While executing a search warrant, Thibodaux Police working with Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration recovered additional amounts of cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine base (crack), numerous items consistent with the packaging and distribution of cocaine, including a digital scale, a pot with cocaine residue used for converting cocaine hydrochloride to cocaine base, razor blades, baking soda, Inositol powder, and over $5,000 in cash packaged in thousand dollar increments.
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration and officers of the Thibodaux Police Department. This matter was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William J. Quinlan, Jr. and Rick Veters.
