Two Men Plead Guilty to Large Scale Drug Trafficking

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that HAKIM SHABAZZ, age 46, of New Orleans, and RENE WASHINGTON, age 54, of Houston, pleaded guilty on May 16, 2023 before United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey to violating the Controlled Substances Act. 

According to court records, law enforcement officers stopped WASHINGTON in Calcasieu Parish as he traveled from New Orleans to Houston on Interstate 10.  Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office officers seized $948,174 from WASHINGTON’S vehicle, in addition to several cell phones.  Those phones contained text messages about drug trafficking, as well as ledgers.  DEA agents in New Orleans executed a search warrant at a business where Washington visited shortly before leaving for Houston and found almost 250 grams of crack cocaine and another $84,803 in cash.  By analyzing text messages and phone records, agents determined that SHABAZZ, who operated an auto body shop, was receiving the shipments of cocaine.  Both men admitted that their conspiracy involved between 50 and 150 kilograms of cocaine. 

Sentencing is set for September 5, 2023. SHABAZZ and WASHINGTON each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least 5 years of supervised release.  The count also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney David Haller of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.