Houston Man Sentenced after Pleading Guilty to Drug Conspiracy

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that U. S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon sentenced FRANK GARDNER, age 54, of Houston, Texas, to 48 months’ imprisonment and one year of supervised release after GARDNER pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one hundred grams or more of cocaine hydrochloride.

According to court documents, on February 11 2015, Louisiana State Troopers conducted traffic stops on two vehicles in Hammond, Louisiana headed eastbound on Interstate 10.  In one vehicle were two individuals, identified as Derrick Wesley and James Williams.  Driving the second vehicle was an individual identified as Quardarell Robinson.  All three individuals were from Florida.  After issuing Wesley and Robinson, the drivers of the respective vehicles, traffic citations, the Troopers obtained probable cause to search both vehicles.  Inside the vehicle driven by Wesley, Troopers found seven kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride and $47,990.00 in cash.  Also in both vehicles were vehicle rental documents.  The documents revealed that Robinson rented the vehicle driven by Wesley and that Wesley rented the vehicle driven by Robinson.  After seizing the drugs and money, the Troopers arrested all three individuals.

Further investigation by Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration revealed that Williams, Wesley and Robinson were returning from Houston, Texas where they met with GARDNER, who arranged the drug transaction.  Agents also learned that GARDNER had arranged three prior cocaine transactions with Williams, Wesley, and Robinson.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Louisiana State Police in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorneys André Jones and Nicholas D. Moses were in charge of the prosecution.