United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

DALLAS MAN AVOIDS TRIAL BY PLEADING GUILTY
TO DRUG AND FIREARMS CHARGES

Defendant Also Admits Fatally Shooting a Man at a Dallas Restaurant

DALLAS — Hours before he was to be tried in federal court on charges outlined in a nine-count superseding indictment that charged him with numerous firearm and drug crimes, Cedric Leavell Randall pled guilty to three felony charges in that indictment, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Specifically, Randall, 27, pled guilty to possession of a firearm and firearm ammunition by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base (“crack” cocaine) and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Randall faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison if the plea agreement between Randall and the Government is approved by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle at Randall’s scheduled sentencing on May 15, 2008. The statutory maximum for the combined offenses is life imprisonment.

According to documents filed in Court, during the early morning hours of October 25, 2004, Dallas Police Department officers were notified of a shooting at the Williams Fried Chicken restaurant at 2660 Robert B. Cullum Boulevard in Dallas. At approximately 4:00 a.m., Cedric Leavell Randall fatally shot Billy Robinson with a 9mm semi-automatic pistol in the drive-thru area of the restaurant.

On April 30, 2007, task force officers with the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Randall at an apartment on Simpson Stuart Road in Dallas. Inside the apartment, officers located a tray in the kitchen that contained 6.9 grams of cocaine base (“crack” cocaine) and a set of digital scales. A latent fingerprint examiner matched Randall’s left thumb print to a latent print on the tray. Officers also discovered numerous plastic baggies, which are commonly used to distribute drugs, on an ironing board in the bedroom. Officers found $400 in cash on Randall’s person and an additional $5,000 in U.S. currency in the pocket of a man’s jacket in the bedroom closet. Randall admitted this money was derived from illegal drug sales.

In the bedroom closet, officers also found a Masterpiece Arms, model MPA30T 9mm pistol, which was loaded with 20 rounds of 9 mm ammunition. Officers noted that this firearm had been strategically placed for easy access and was intended to protect Randall’s interests in the drugs and drug money.

Randall was convicted in Dallas County in February 2001 for possession with the intent to deliver cocaine.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Dallas Police Department’s Homicide and Gang Units, the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (FAST) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the cooperative efforts of the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe Revesz and Gary Tromblay.

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