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Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. has announced that an investigation into a drug trafficking organization based out of Ascension Parish has resulted in a federal grand jury superseding indictment leading to the arrest of nine men on various firearm and drug trafficking offenses.
According to the Indictment, the defendants engaged in an extensive drug trafficking venture where they distributed large quantities of methamphetamine in the Middle District of Louisiana. Agents seized over nine kilograms of methamphetamine and several firearms during the investigation.
Charged and arrested as part of this initiative were the following individuals:
Reshide Wooden, age 25, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Rokedrick Tyrell Williby, age 31, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Denzel Dionte Gray, age 29, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Malcolm Oliver, Jr., age 32, of Napoleonville, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Kelly Derrell Jones, age 40, of Gonzales, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
David Burnell Lewis, age 37, of Gonzales, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
Christopher Dee Harrod, age 41, of Prairieville, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Blain Joseph Slayton, age 29, of Gonzales, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Robert Jason Slayton, age 51, of Plaquemine, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and task force officers from Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office and Baton Rouge Police Department with critical assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Marshals Service, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Gonzales Police Department, West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Jarreau, who also serves as Deputy Chief, overseeing the newly formed Organized and Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The investigation is another effort by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program that was established in 1982 to mount a comprehensive attack against organized drug traffickers. Today, the OCDETF Program is the centerpiece of the United States Attorney General’s drug strategy to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations and money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises. The OCDETF Program operates nationwide and combines the resources and unique expertise of numerous federal, state, and local agencies in a coordinated attack against major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.