Armed Drug Trafficker Convicted At Trial

BATON ROUGE, LA – Acting United States Attorney Corey R. Amundson announced today that a federal jury has convicted QUINTON HALL, age 32, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, of various drug trafficking crimes, and illegally possessing a firearm in connection with the crimes, based on the defendant’s efforts to distribute methamphetamine throughout Livingston, Louisiana, and Gonzales, Louisiana, in 2015. Earlier this afternoon, after a three-day trial, the jury unanimously returned guilty verdicts on all four counts presented at trial, namely, conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine, attempted possession with the intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine, distribution of fifty grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

As the evidence at trial demonstrated, HALL would obtain kilogram and multi-ounce quantities of methamphetamine from suppliers in Texas and California. Working with other individuals in Gonzales and Walker, Louisiana, HALL would distribute the methamphetamine to customers in Livingston and Ascension Parishes. During the conspiracy, for instance, in January of 2015, HALL caused a mail parcel containing more than 300 grams of methamphetamine to be mailed from California to an address in Walker, Louisiana, where HALL believed he would be able to pick up the parcel. On January 22, 2015, HALL attempted to possess more than five grams of methamphetamine, which he intended to distribute. Later, on August 19, 2015, HALL actually distributed fifty grams or more of methamphetamine. On that date, he was arrested and found to be in possession of a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol, which HALL concealed in a compartment behind the stereo of his vehicle.

As a result of his convictions, HALL faces a lengthy federal prison sentence, including a mandatory minimum sentence of not less than 15 years in prison as a result of the conspiracy and firearms counts. HALL also faces significant fines and forfeiture. HALL is scheduled to be sentenced on November 9, 2017.

Acting U.S. Attorney Corey Amundson stated, “Today reaffirms, yet again, that armed drug traffickers will find no safe quarter in federal court. I applaud the thoughtful decisions of the unanimous jury, and the excellent work of the prosecutors and the federal, state, and local law enforcements agencies who all worked seamlessly together to bring this trafficker to justice. Our collective work to make our communities safer must and will continue with vigor.”

This matter is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. The investigation received valuable assistance from the Louisiana State Police. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Crosswell and J. Brady Casey.