Final “BTE” Member Sentenced To More Than 25 Years In Prison For Drug Trafficking

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Cortez Haugabook (34, St. Petersburg), aka “Traffic,” to 25 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. Haugabook pleaded guilty on March 6, 2024.

According to court documents, Haugabook, Torri McLaurin, Kristian Brown, and Javontah Harris were members of Bag Tawk Entertainment (“BTE”), an organization distributing controlled substances, which primarily operated in St. Petersburg. Haugabook and his co-defendants, as well as other members of BTE, used residences in Pinellas County to manufacture and sell narcotics. In videos posted online, BTE members featured images of drug manufacturing and lyrics about making and selling narcotics in their videos.

On January 23, 2022, Javontah Harris, a/k/a “Gut,” possessed 224.1 grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine, approximately $1,843 cash, and make-shift business cards containing a phone number traced to Haugabook.  Law enforcement executed search warrants at residences used by BTE to distribute narcotics, which were also featured by the group online.

In January 2022, agents located McLaurin, a/k/a “T-Dub,” at the residence and recovered over 100 grams of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, as well as firearms. In April 2022, agents located 62.7 grams of methamphetamine, 51 grams of fentanyl, 5 grams of cocaine, and two firearms at another location used by BTE to traffic narcotics. That same location was searched again in October 2022 and agents found Brown, a/k/a “Skeet,” and Haugabook as well as 70.9 grams of pure methamphetamine, over 90 grams of cocaine, and 33 grams of fentanyl analogue.

On April 18, 2023, agents executed a search warrant at another stash location used by Haugabook and located 428.9 grams of methamphetamine and 18.9 grams of cocaine. Haugabook rushed to flush narcotics down the toilet during the execution of the warrant.

McLaurin, Harris, and Brown were previously sentenced for their roles in this case. McLaurin was sentenced to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison. Harris and Brown were each sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha E. Beckman.