Press Releases
CRIME TASK FORCE ARREST LEADS TO FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTMENT OF A 9-1-1 OPERATOR FOR DRUG DISTRIBUTION
August 3, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DEMOND BOUDOIN, age 26, a resident of Edgard, Louisiana, was charged in a five-count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury for distribution of a quantity of cocaine base “crack”, distribution of five (5) or more grams of cocaine base “crack” and distribution of fifty (50) grams or more of cocaine base “crack”, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to publicly available court documents, after becoming suspicious that DEMOND BOUDOIN, who at the time was employed by the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office as a 9-1-1 Operator/ Dispatcher, may have been distributing illegal drugs while on duty, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office working in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration, initiated an investigation on DEMOND BOUDOIN. According to the complaint filed in federal court, on five separate occasions, a confidential source purchased “crack” cocaine from BOUDOIN. On two of these occasions, it is alleged that BOUDOIN distributed the illegal drugs in front of the St. Charles Parish 9-1-1 Communications Center.
If convicted, as to Count I, BOUDOIN faces a maximum possible penalty of twenty (20) years imprisonment, a $1,000,000.00 fine, at least three (3) years supervised release; as to Counts 2, 3, and 4 of the indictment, BOUDOIN faces a minimum of five (5) years and a maximum of forty (40) years, a $2,000,000.00 fine, at least four (4) years supervised release; as to Count 5, BOUDOIN faces a minimum of ten (10) years and a maximum of life imprisonment, a $4,000,000.00 fine, and at least five (5) years supervised release.
Speaking to the investigation and today’s indictment, U. S. Attorney Letten stated:
“On behalf of the U. S. Department of Justice, and particularly on behalf of the men and women of the U. S. Attorney’s Office, I want to offer my thanks and appreciation to St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne and his fine staff who were instrumental in uncovering this illegal conduct, thereafter working in close partnership with Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration in order to protect our citizens and, as importantly, to maintain the integrity of the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office. As always, I appreciate the outstanding work of DEA Special Agent in Charge Billy Renton and the men and women of DEA.
Finally, my special thanks go out to Assistant U. S. Attorney Melvin Washington who has been assigned to the investigation and prosecution of this case. Assistant U. S. Attorney Washington continues to serve as a volunteer prosecutor in this office on special detail from Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the purpose of providing assistance to our office in prosecuting violent crime, drug, and other cases which threaten the public safety of our citizens.”
St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne added:
“I am happy that we have the relationship we have with the U. S. Attorney and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is a great benefit to be able to call upon these resources to conduct investigations such as these. This proves that St. Charles Parish will not tolerate any corrupt activities.”
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 investigation was conducted by the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Melvin K. Washington.
