Six Men Indicted for Orleans Parish Based Narcotics Trafficking Conspiracy
Published 12:33 pm Friday, September 23, 2022
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Charles WADE, a/k/a “Poosie,” age 41, David Hester, a/k/a “Goon,” age 33, Brison Shelton, age 48, William Lang, age 44, Alfred Clay, age 58, and Saul Macedo-Rodriguez, age 36, were indicted Thursday, September 22, 2022, by a federal grand jury , for violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act.
During the investigation, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, seized over forty-one (41) kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride, ten (10) kilograms of fentanyl, and over four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000.00) in bulk cash.
According to court documents, WADE and LANG, were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five (5) kilograms more of cocaine hydrochloride, one (1) kilogram or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, and four hundred (400) grams or more of mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), 841 (b)(1)(A), and Section 846.
HESTER, CLAY, and MACEDO-RODRIGUEZ were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute five (5) kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and Section 846.
SHELTON is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute five hundred (500) grams or more of cocaine hydrochloride, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and Section 846.
If convicted, WADE, HESTER, LANG, CLAY, and MACEDO-RODRIGUEZ face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000.00, and at least 5 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. SHELTON faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00, and at least 4 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. As to each count for which they were charged , the defendants also face a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration – New Orleans Field Division Office and assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Border Patrol, Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, Kenner Police Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. John’s Parish Sheriff’s Office, New Orleans Sheriff’s Office and New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Usher.