Two Houma Men Indicted For Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DANIEL CABRERA-VERGARA, JR., a/k/a “Junior,” age 35, and LARANZA THOMAS, a/k/a “Dude,” age 28, residents of Houma, Louisiana, were charged May 16, 2019, in a three-count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, and use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser.

According to the indictment, beginning at a date unknown, but not later than October 30, 2018, and continuing until on or about November 6, 2018, CABRERA-VERGARA and THOMAS conspired with each other to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Louisiana. CABRERA-VERGARA and THOMAS are also charged with using a communication facility, a telephone, to facilitate the drug conspiracy.

If convicted, CABRERA-VERGARA and THOMAS 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 Louisiana State Police, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, the New Orleans Police Department, the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Orleans Levee District Police Department, and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections – Division of Probation and Parole. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Paige O’Hale.