Grand Jury Returns Superseding Indictment Against Jarvis Hardy in Shooting of DEA Task Force Officer

U. S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JARVIS HARDY, age 28, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged in a nine-count superseding indictment by a Federal Grand Jury for 1) conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”) (Count One); 2) four counts of distribution of quantities of cocaine base (“crack”) (Counts Two through Five); 3) attempted murder of a federal law enforcement officer (Count Six); 4) discharging one firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and a drug trafficking crime (Count Seven); 5) possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”) (Count Eight); and possessing a second firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (Count Nine).

According to court documents, on January 26, 2016, agents and task force officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) executed a search warrant for 5300 Douglas Street and an arrest warrant for HARDY.  During the execution of the warrants, DEA Task Force Officer Stephen C. Arnold was shot multiple times by HARDY.  Following the shooting, investigating agents recovered two firearms from HARDY’s residence, as well as amounts of cocaine base (“crack”) and paraphernalia associated with drug trafficking.  The execution of the warrants followed an extended investigation of HARDY by the DEA that included multiple undercover purchases of cocaine base (“crack”) from HARDY.

If convicted, HARDY faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years up to life, a fine of $10,000,000, and at least five (5) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment as to the cocaine base (“crack”) conspiracy in Count One; a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years, a fine of $1,000,000 and at least three (3) years of supervised release as to the distributions of cocaine base (“crack”) in Counts Two through Five; a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a fine of $250,000.00 and five (5) years of supervised release as to the attempted murder in Count Six; for the firearm charges in Counts Seven and Nine, a consecutive minimum term of imprisonment of five years up to life imprisonment for one firearm count and a consecutive minimum term of imprisonment of twenty-five years to life imprisonment for the second firearm count; and a mandatory term of at least five years up to forty years, a potential fine of $5,000,000, and at least four (4) years of supervised release for the possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”) in Count Eight.       

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. 

U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the superseding indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.  

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorneys Elizabeth Privitera, Theodore Carter, and David Haller.