Federal Jury Convicts Zachary Man of Multiple Drug and Gun Charges

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr., announced the conviction of Jeremy Dewayne Hawkins, age 43, of Zachary, Louisiana.  After a three-day trial before Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick, the jury unanimously convicted Hawkins of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon.

As the evidence at trial demonstrated, DEA agents intercepted communications over four of Hawkins’ telephones between June and August 2017 and learned that Hawkins conspired with others to obtain kilogram quantities of cocaine and heroin from Houston, Texas and elsewhere and redistribute those narcotics within the Middle District of Louisiana.  Evidence brough to light at trial by federal and state law enforcement officials described a search warrant on Hawkins’ property in Ethel, Louisiana, where agents located more than four kilograms of cocaine, over 100 grams of heroin, six firearms, and over 800 rounds of ammunition.  Hawkins was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

As a result of his convictions, Hawkins now faces a maximum sentence in federal prison of up to 40 years imprisonment, as well as significant fines, forfeiture, and a minimum 4-year term of supervised release.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service, Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office, Baton Rouge Police Department, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Jarreau, who also serves as the Deputy Chief of the Organized and Violent Crime Unit, and Jene C. Clayton.