Marrero Men Plead Guilty To Drug Conspiracy

U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite announced today that STOKLEY AUSTIN, age 33, and DONALD JONES, JR., age 33, both residents of Marrero, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride and a quantity of cocaine base (“crack”) and firearms offenses.  AUSTIN and JONES also entered guilty pleas to possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Additionally, AUSTIN pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents the conspiracy involved multiple kilogram quantities of powder cocaine being transported into the New Orleans metropolitan area and delivered to AUSTIN and JONES. At the time of AUSTIN’s arrest on July 23, 2013, agents discovered approximately 2485.7 gross grams of powder cocaine, approximately 39.7 gross grams of crack cocaine, approximately $45,870.00 cash, a loaded Smith and Wesson .22 caliber rifle,  a loaded Ruger P-89 9mm semi-automatic pistol, in addition to drug distribution and packaging materials at his residence.  On the same date, at the time of JONES’ arrest, agents discovered approximately 1907 gross grams of powder cocaine, approximately 63 gross grams of crack cocaine, approximately 269 gross grams of heroin, approximately $22,535.00 cash, and four guns: an AK-47 assault rifle, a Browning Arms 9mm pistol, a Smith & Wesson .22 caliber pistol, and Taurus 9mm pistol at his residence. 

Due to a prior felony drug conviction, AUSTIN faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison, a maximum of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $20 million, and at least 10 years of supervised release. JONES faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, a maximum of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10 million, and at least 8 years of supervised release.  Sentencing is scheduled on January 7, 2015.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Westwego Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorneys Theodore R. Carter, III and Spiro Latsis.