Indictment Unsealed Charging Three New Orleans East Residents with Federal Drug and Firearms Violations

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced the unsealing of an eleven-count Indictment yesterday charging LEROY SMITH, age 31, JAMIE JONES, age 32, and KENNETH MIXON, age 31, all of New Orleans East, with violations of federal drug and firearms laws.  All of the defendants face the lead charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, along with other substantive drug offenses.  All of the defendants were charged with using a telephone in furtherance of their drug conspiracy.  Defendants SMITH and JONES were also charged with possessing firearms in furtherance of the drug offenses.  Finally, SMITH was charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

If convicted of the drug conspiracy, SMITH and JONES face a minimum sentence of 5 years incarceration, a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, a fine of not more than $5,000,000, and a minimum of four years of supervised release.  On the drug conspiracy, MIXON faces a maximum sentence of 20 years incarceration, a fine of not more than $1,000,000, and a minimum of three years of supervised release.  On the telephone counts, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 4 years incarceration, a fine of not more than $250,000, and a maximum of three years of supervised release.  For possessing the firearms in furtherance of the drug offenses, SMITH and JONES face a minimum sentence of 5 years incarceration, a fine of not more than $250,000, and a maximum three years of supervised release.  Lastly, on the felon in possession charge, SMITH faces a maximum sentence of 10 years incarceration, a fine of not more than $250,000, and a maximum three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Polite 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 Polite praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Long is in charge of the prosecution.