Jefferson Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Cocaine Base

Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that PATRICK STEPHEN, age 37, pled guilty today to Count 1 of an Indictment, which charged him with distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base.

According to court documents, Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted five separate controlled purchases of cocaine from STEPHEN between August 2016 and February 2017 in Jefferson and Orleans Parishes.  The last purchase involved over 57 grams of cocaine base.

STEPHEN faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years up to a maximum sentenced of 40 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.  Sentencing is scheduled before Judge Carl J. Barbier on January 25, 2018.

Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, as well as the Jefferson Parish Sherriff’s Office, in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh is in charge of the prosecution.