U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that SHANTELL WASHINGTON, age 43, of Independence, was sentenced today after having previously pled guilty to one count of misprision of a felony.
U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey sentenced WASHINGTON to three years’ probation.
According to court documents, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office deputies were investigating Washington’s husband, JAMES BROWN, JR.., for heroin distribution beginning in July 2013. After having made several controlled purchases of heroin from BROWN, DEA agents obtained a federal warrant for his arrest. On Nov. 21, 2013, agents went to BROWN’s residence to execute the warrant, but BROWN was not present at his home. Agents advised WASHINGTON that her husband was wanted for federal drug distribution charges, and that concealing him is a federal offense. WASHINGTON subsequently rented a hotel room for BROWN in Hammond, in order to conceal him from arrest. Federal authorities later located BROWN at the hotel room and arrested him. BROWN was convicted in federal court for conspiracy to distribute heroin and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and he was sentenced by Judge Zainey to 120 months in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the DEA and the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Payne was in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
