LAKE CHARLES, La. - United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a jury found Anthony Frederick “Tony" Giaimis, 48, of Westlake, La., guilty Wednesday of conspiring to distribute and of possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The jury also found him guilty of one count felony weapon possession. District Judge Patricia Minaldi presided over the trial.
Giaimis’ trial started Monday and ended Wednesday with the jury returning the guilty verdict after deliberating for about 45 minutes. The jury found that Giaimis conspired to distribute more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine, and that he possessed more than 5 grams of pure methamphetamine, which police found on Jan. 6, 2012, during a search of a marina owned by his mother, the Bridge Port Yacht club, where Giaimis was living. The jury heard testimony that during the dates of the conspiracy, Giaimis obtained more than 80 ounces of methamphetamine from two men in the Houston area, which he sold to people living in and around Calcasieu Parish. Police also found 14 firearms in various locations at the marina. Giaimis had been previously convicted of a felony in June 2011 in the 253rd District Court of Texas in Chambers County for possession with intent to deliver more than 200 grams of methamphetamine.
Because of his prior conviction, Giaimis faces a minimum of 20 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $20 million, and at least 10 years of supervised release for the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine count; and 10 to 40 years in prison, an $8 million fine, and at least eight years of supervised release for the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine count; and he faces 15 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Justin W. Brewer, 42, and Ricky Martinez, 43, both of Houston, Texas, were charged in the same indictment with Giaimis in August 2012. Giaimis’ trial was severed from that of his co-defendants April 4, 2013.
Brewer pleaded guilty Monday before District Judge Patricia Minaldi to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. According to the stipulated factual basis for the guilty plea, Brewer was arrested Dec. 28, 2011, after 51.1 grams of pure methamphetamine was found in the trunk of his car. An informant told authorities that Brewer was in the Westlake area and was transporting a large quantity of methamphetamine. A Westlake police officer pulled Brewer over for a traffic violation, and found a drug smoking pipe and other drug paraphernalia in the console of car, and a box containing methamphetamine in the trunk.
Brewer faces 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, and at least five years of supervised release for the methamphetamine count.
Martinez is set for trial May 13, 2013. He is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and one count of possession of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Martinez is alleged to have taken part in a conspiracy to distribute the methamphetamine from January 2009 to February 2012. If convicted, Martinez will face 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, and at least five years of supervised release for each count.
“It took the work of informants, police, sheriff’s officers, and federal agents to bring the defendants in this drug distribution operation to justice," Finley stated. “I want to thank all of those who put their time and lives on the line to remove harmful and illegal drugs from our streets."
The Westlake Police Department, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lake Charles Police Department, FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Combined Anti-drug Team(CAT) Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratory conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
