U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
Indictment Unsealed Charging Four Defendants in Interstate Cocaine-Trafficking Conspiracy
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the unsealing of an 11-count Indictment charging JORGE ORNELAS, age 50, of Houston, TX; TEKA LAFRANCE, age 47, of New Orleans, LA; JERRELL ENCALADE, age 34, of Boothville, LA; and ALBERT VEREEN JR., age 36, of Port Sulphur, LA, with conspiring to traffic cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine base (“crack”), along with numerous substantive drug offenses.
The following chart summarizes the charges alleged in the Indictment, along with the penalties that each defendant faces if convicted of the alleged offense.
|
Count |
Charge |
Defendants |
Penalties |
|
1 |
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Hydrochloride and Cocaine Base – Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), 841(b)(1)(B), 841(b)(1)(C) and 846 |
All |
ORNELAS and LAFRANCE: 10 years to life imprisonment, at least 5 years supervised release, $10,000,000 fine
ENCALADE and VEREEN: 5 to 40 years, at least 4 years supervised release, $5,000,000 fine |
|
2 |
Distribution of Cocaine Base – Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C)
|
VEREEN |
0 to 20 years, at least 3 years supervised release, $1,000,000 fine |
|
3 |
Distribution of Cocaine Base – Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) |
VEREEN |
0 to 20 years, at least 3 years supervised release, $1,000,000 fine |
|
4 |
Distribution of Cocaine Base – Title 21, United State Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) |
VEREEN |
0 to 20 years, at least 3 years supervised release, $1,000,000 fine |
|
5 |
Distribution of Cocaine Base – Title 21, United State Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) |
VEREEN |
0 to 20 years, at least 3 years supervised release, $1,000,000 fine |
|
6 |
Distribution of Cocaine Base – Title 21, United State Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) |
VEREEN |
0 to 20 years, at least 3 years supervised release, $1,000,000 fine |
|
7 |
Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Hydrochloride – Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) |
VEREEN |
0 to 20 years, at least 3 years supervised release, $1,000,000 fine |
|
8 |
Distribution of Cocaine Base – Title 21, United State Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) |
ENCALADE |
0 to 20 years, at least 3 years supervised release, $1,000,000 fine |
|
9 |
Distribution of Cocaine Hydrochloride – Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) |
LAFRANCE |
0 to 20 years, at least 3 years supervised release, $1,000,000 fine |
|
10 |
Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine Hydrochloride – Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B) |
LAFRANCE |
5 to 40 years, at least 4 years supervised release, $5,000,000 fine |
|
11 |
Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Hydrochloride and Cocaine Base – Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) |
ENCALADE |
0 to 20 years, at least 3 years supervised release, $1,000,000 fine |
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office (PPSO), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), Kenner Police Department (KPD), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Houston Police Department (HPD). Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Long is in charge of the prosecution.
Updated May 3, 2018
Topic
Drug Trafficking
Component