RESERVE – Jordy Robertson, 37, of Reserve was formally charged on Friday with drug trafficking and wire fraud offenses in U.S. District Court.

The Drug Enforcement Administration arrested Robertson, known for his organ transplant awareness charity “It Takes Lives To Save Lives” earlier this year in LaPlace. Robertson is also the father of 16-year-old Saints and sports superfan Jarrius “J.J.” Robertson.

If convicted of the drug charges, Robertson faces up to 20 years in prison, followed by at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. If convicted of the wire fraud charges, Robertson faces up to 20 years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain to Robertson or the gross loss to any victims.

The case is set for a pretrial conference on September 26 and trial on October 15, before Judge Wendy B. Vitter.

The government filed a two-count bill of information filed the drug trafficking conspiracy ran from at least May 2017 through January 2019, and his wire fraud scheme allegedly ran from October 2016 through January 2019.

1. S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

In a L’OBSERVATEUR interview with Patricia Hoyal, the custodial parent of Robertson’s two children, Hoyal said, “It doesn’t surprise me that (Jordy) got arrested,” Hoyal said. “That is his lifestyle. That is what he does. It’s not shocking. My son Tiyquan tells me everything, and (Jordy) sells drugs in front of the kids. It’s nothing new. Tiyquan has told me on numerous occasions that he has sold drugs in front of them. I have contacted the police department, but nothing is done about it. But now it is, so thank god.”

According to Hoyal, Jordy routinely used J.J.’s fame, likeness and recognition through appearances to falsely generate donations that were routinely used outside their intended purposes. Hoyal said she is most troubled by those in the community who feel J.J. was in on the fraud, something she and law enforcement maintains is not true.

Strasser praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan L. Shih and Nicholas D. Moses are in charge of the prosecution.