Lafayette Businessman Buswell Pleads Guilty To Charges In Two Separate Cases

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Richard Joseph Buswell, 44, of Lafayette, pleaded guilty to charges in two separate cases related to his involvement in two separate business ventures.

BUSWELL PLEADS GUILTY TO DRUG DISTRIBUTION CHARGE IN
CURIOUS GOODS CASE

Buswell pleaded guilty Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Hanna to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance analogue.  Buswell faces 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1 million fine, and restitution. A sentencing date of May 16, 2014 was set.

Co-defendants Boyd Barrow, 44, of Canton, Ga.; Thomas William Malone Jr., 45, of Roswell, Ga.; and Drew T. Green, 38, of Roswell, Ga.; pleaded guilty in September 2012 to Count One of the Superceding Indictment, which is to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance analogue.  Joshua Espinoza, 49, of Marietta, Ga., pleaded guilty to Count One of the Superceding Indictment in November 2012. The remaining co-defendants who did not plead guilty are Alexander Derrick Reece, 40, of Gainesville, Fla.; Daniel James Stanford, 54, of Lafayette, La.; Daniel Paul Francis, 42, of Dawsonville, Ga.; and Barry L. Domingue, 52, of Carencro, La. Trial date has been set for March 31, 2014.

The DEA, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the IRS, and the Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Luke Walker and J. Collin Sims are prosecuting the case.

BUSWELL PLEADS GUILTY TO CHARGE IN SCHEME THAT COST INVESTORS MILLIONS

Buswell also pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik to a securities fraud case in which he orchestrated an investment scheme that the government contends cost clients $8 million. Buswell faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and restitution for the wire fraud count.  A sentencing date was not set.

The FBI conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly P. Uebinger and Howard C. Parker are prosecuting the case.