Willis Sentencing
MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS
BATON ROUGE, LA – United States Attorney Donald J. Cazayoux, Jr., announced that U.S. Chief District Judge Ralph E. Tyson sentenced CHRISTOPHER R. WILLIS, 36, of Baton Rouge to twenty-five years in prison. WILLIS was sentenced for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and to two counts of intimidation of a witness.
During the conspiracy, WILLIS received pounds of methamphetamine from Luther J. Franklin and his associate, Sommay Payanouvong. Following the arrest of Payanouvong and Franklin, WILLIS sought another supplier for methamphetamine. He entered into an understanding with Lauren Denise Smith to supply him with amounts of methamphetamine from Denise Boudreaux.
Luther J. Franklin was sentenced by Judge John V. Parker to serve 120 months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Judge Parker sentenced Sommay Payanouvong to serve 57 months in prison.
Judge Frank J. Polozola sentenced Lauren Denise Smith to serve 78 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine.
Chief Judge Tyson sentenced Denise Boudreaux to serve 190 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute five hundred grams or more of methamphetamine and for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and five hundred grams or more of methamphetamine.
During this investigation, WILLIS obstructed justice by intimidating an individual who was cooperating with federal authorities in their investigation of his drug trafficking activities.
During the period of time WILLIS was participating in this drug trafficking conspiracy, he was on parole for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and ecstasy.
The investigation of WILLIS was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, Baton Rouge City Police Department, West Baton Rouge Parish’s Office, and Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert W. Piedrahita.
