NEW ORLEANS — A LaPlace man was sentenced to 12 years in jail this week for his role in distributing more than 100 grams of heroin.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced Ricky Marquette Bozeman, 37, of LaPlace, was sentenced Thursday after having previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 100 grams of heroin.

U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier sentenced Bozeman to 144 months incarceration, to be followed by four years of supervised release.

DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Brown said heroin has become an epidemic in the New Orleans area, adding the DEA is attacking the criminals who target the weak and addicted with their violent drug trafficking.

“Heroin trafficking is the worst of the worst, preying on and sometimes creating an addict population, which leads to other types of crime and violence,” Brown said. “This investigation demonstrates the commitment of the DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to dismantle these groups and send them to federal prison.”

Also announced this week was that Vincent Jones, 45, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to distribute and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over one kilogram of heroin.

Jones is facing 20 years to life imprisonment, as well as a possible fine of up to $20,000,000. Barbier set sentencing for Jan. 21.

Bozeman and Jones were two of 12 defendants charged in a 23-count indictment on July 25, 2014.  According to court documents, this indictment sprung from an investigation into a heroin-trafficking organization operating in New Orleans East.

This organization was responsible for distributing at least 15 kilograms of heroin in the New Orleans area. As part of the arrests in this case, federal agents have seized from the 12 defendants approximately $1,200,000 in vehicles, currency, jewelry and property as proceeds made from the sale of heroin.

“Heroin is leading to alarming levels of violence and overdose deaths in our communities,” Polite said. “Because of the danger posed by this dangerous narcotic, our Office will be vigilant in fighting heroin trafficking, and the loss of life that stems from it, in all parts of Southeast Louisiana.”