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NEW ORLEANS– U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced on Monday, June 14, 2021, that Demarco Ford, age 64, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana pled guilty to a two-count Superseding Bill of Information.  In Count 1, Ford is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine hydrochloride in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and 846.  In Count 2, Ford is charged with use of communication facilities to further a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(b).

According to court documents, Ford conspired with other members of a drug trafficking organization to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride.  Additionally, Ford used a communication facility, the telephone, to facilitate the distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.

United States District Court Judge Susan Morgan will sentence Ford on September 28, 2021. For Count 1, Ford faces a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years, a fine of up to $1,000,000, a period of supervised release of at least 3 years, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.  For Count 2, Ford faces a term of imprisonment of up to 4 years, a fine up to $250,000, a period of supervised release of up to 1 year, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.”

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.  This case is being prosecuted by Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime/Strike Force Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.