Four Jefferson and St. Tammany Parish Men Indicted for Violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JAMES MAGEE, age 31, DEON SHORT, age 26, and CHARLES WHITE, age 31, all residents of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, and DENTRELL JOHNSON, age 28, a Slidell, Louisiana resident, were charged on June 22, 2023 in a sealed fourteen-count superseding indictment, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.  The case was unsealed on June 28, 2023.

The indictment charged MAGEE, JOHNSON, and WHITE with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and quantities of cocaine base, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846.  For this offense, they face a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of five years, up to forty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

SHORT is also charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846.  For this offense, he faces up to twenty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

The indictment also  charged  MAGEE, JOHNSON, WHITE and SHORT with distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, including but not limited to cocaine and cocaine base, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C).  For each of these offenses, the defendants face up to twenty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

MAGEE is charged with two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A)(i).  JOHNSON is charged with one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.  For each offense, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment, up to life, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years supervised release.

MAGEE is also charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).  For this offense, he faces up to fifteen years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years supervised release.

For each of the counts of the indictment in which they are charged , the defendants face payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.  The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Narcotics Unit.