Three Terrebonne and Lafourche Men Indicted For Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – HAKEAM DRANE, a/k/a “Keam,” age 29, of Gray, La., SPENCER ROUNDS, JR., a/k/a “BoBoy,” age 29, of Gray, La., and LARRY CHATMAN, age 28, of Thibodaux, La., were charged May 30, 2019, in a four-count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury with several narcotics offenses, including conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, distribution and possession with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, and felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser.

According to court records, a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force identified DRANE as narcotics trafficker of methamphetamine in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes. Between March and May 2019, DRANE, ROUNDS, and CHATMAN made several telephone calls in the Eastern District of Louisiana to facilitate a methamphetamine conspiracy, and on May 15, 2019, distributed more than 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine to the Eastern District of Louisiana. 

On May 13, 2019, the DEA Task Force learned that ROUNDS and CHATMAN were in Los Angeles, California, preparing to ship methamphetamine via United Parcel Service (UPS). Task Force officers identified two UPS parcels in the mail stream that arrived in Louisiana, one sent by ROUNDS and one sent by CHATMAN. Officers seized the parcels pursuant to a Federal search warrant. Inside, officers located vacuum sealed packages containing approximately 60 pounds of methamphetamine. The vacuum sealed packages were further wrapped in dryer fabric softener sheets in an attempt to mask the methamphetamine’s odor. A search of ROUNDS’ car revealed a firearm, which ROUNDS is prohibited from possessing as a convicted felon.

In addition, DRANE distributed more than 50 grams of methamphetamine on July 30, 2018, and on January 17, 2019.

If convicted, DRANE faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $20,000,000.00, and at least 10 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. ROUNDS and CHATMAN, if convicted, face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000.00, and at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. 

This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).  OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets. 

U.S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Paige O’Hale.