U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced today’s unsealing of a two-count Indictment charging JONATHAN LAWRENCE, a/k/a “Chop," a/k/a “Mego," age 29; DONALD MARCELIN, a/k/a “Snook," a/k/a “Black," a/k/a “Golfer," age 39; BRANDON HALL, a/k/a “B-Hilly," age 26; and BRIAN MAXSON, a/k/a “Chin," age 32, all of New Orleans, with violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act and the Federal Gun Control Act. Count One charges all four defendants with a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin. Count Two charges defendants LAWRENCE, HALL, and MAXSON with a conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of their drug-trafficking activities.
If convicted of the drug charge, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of twenty years of imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. If convicted of the firearm charge, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of twenty years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Polite reiterated that the Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New Orleans Division’s Violent Gang Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office (JPSO) in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Long is in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
