Georgia Man Sentenced in Honduran Cocaine Importation Scheme

Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ALFRED DENNISON, a/k/a “Uncle,” age 58, of Georgia, was sentenced yesterday for his role in a conspiracy to import cocaine from Roatan, Honduras, to the United States via cruise ships.

DENNISON previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 952(a), 960(a)(1), 960(b)(1)(B), and 963. According to court documents, on January 3, 2016, agents and taskforce officers with the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Border Enforcement Security Taskforce were conducting routine surveillance at the New Orleans cruise ship terminal. Agents observed three cruise line workers, later identified as ASBERT LOWMANS, JEAN LOUIS, and ESIAS FELICIEN, enter a restroom where they began removing packages of cocaine from underneath their clothes. Agents detained them along with a fourth cruise line employee, KEVIN JOHN, who also transported cocaine from the ship. Agents seized a total of approximately 4.75 kilograms of cocaine.

A subsequent investigation revealed that DENNISON, a native of Jamaica with dual U.S. and Jamaican citizenship, was the intended recipient of the cocaine. DENNISON was arrested at a hotel in New Orleans the same day and he was found in possession of a black plastic bag holding $19,000 in U.S. currency. Agents determined that DENNISON had previously received cocaine shipments in New Orleans on at least four prior occasions. Each shipment of cocaine originated in Roatan, Honduras, and each shipment contained four to five kilograms of cocaine.

For DENNISON’s role in importing multiple shipments of cocaine into the United States, U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle sentenced him to 80 months incarceration, followed by four years of supervised release, a $5,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.

Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the HSI New Orleans Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Payne was in charge of the prosecution.