Four Lafourche Parish Men Indicted For Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KENDALL MATHEWS, a/k/a “DOT,” age 36,  EARL JOHNSON, a/k/a “MUD,” age 39,  MONTRELL CLEVELAND, a/k/a “NOON,” age 32, and DONTRELL MATHEWS, age 40, all residents of Thibodaux, Louisiana, were charged June 14, 2019, in a fifteen-count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury with several narcotics offenses, including conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine, five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride, use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking crime, and distribution of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser.

According to the indictment, beginning at a time unknown and continuing until September 28, 2018, Kendall MATHEWS, JOHNSON, CLEVELAND, and Dontrell MATHEWS conspired with each other to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine.  During that same period, Kendall MATHEWS and JOHNSON engaged in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride and a quantity of heroin.  Kendall MATHEWS and Dontrell MATHEWS are also charged with distribution of methamphetamine and all four individuals are charged with using a communication facility, a telephone, to facilitate drug conspiracies.  

If convicted, Kendall MATHEWS, JOHNSON, CLEVELAND, and Dontrell MATHEWS face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000.00 and at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. 

This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).  OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets. 

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

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Homeland Security Investigations, Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.  The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones.