Memphis, TN - On November 8, 2017, a federal grand jury returned a 7-count indictment charging five defendants with conspiracy to distribute large amounts of marijuana and money laundering. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the indictment today.
This investigation was conducted in conjunction with prosecutors in Memphis and elsewhere as part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program, which seeks to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises.
Between 2014 and May 3, 2017, the defendants engaged in a multi-state marijuana and money laundering conspiracy. Utilizing the U.S. Mail, the defendants would send and receive packages of marijuana for redistribution in multiple locations, including Memphis and Chattanooga, Tennessee and San Francisco, California. In furtherance of this conspiracy, the defendants conducted a large number of financial transactions.
"This indictment reflects the ongoing priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to use all available law enforcement and prosecutorial resources to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations and conspiracies that distribute illegal narcotics into and through the Western District of Tennessee. Our investigations and prosecutions through the OCDETF Program will be aggressive and far reaching, and will include criminal forfeiture of the ill-gotten financial proceeds from such illegal activities," said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant.
The five defendants indicted on federal charges include:
Jijad Hijazi, 33, San Francisco, CA
Christopher Heffernan, 32, San Francisco, CA
Nasseam Elkarra, 36, San Francisco, CA
Kenric West, 46, Memphis, TN
Patrick O’Neal, 28, Memphis, TN
Count 1 charges Jijad Hijazi, Christopher Heffernan, Nasseam Elkarra, Kenric West and Patrick O’Neal with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, in excess of 100 kilograms of marijuana.
Count 2 charges Kenric West with possession with intent to distribute 444.2 grams of marijuana.
Count 3 charges Kenric West with possession with intent to distribute 23.4 grams or more of cocaine.
Count 4 charges Kenric West with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Count 5 charges Jijad Hijazi and Kenric West with possession with intent to distribute marijuana in excess of 2,690 grams.
Count 6 charges Jijad Hijazi and Kenric West with possession with intent to distribute 1,523 grams of marijuana.
Count 7 charges Jijad Hijazi and Kenric West with conspiring to engage in financial transactions with intent to promote the carrying on of specified unlawful activity, that is conspiracy to commit drug trafficking.
The United States also seeks criminal forfeiture of $3,078,000 in U.S. currency, both jointly and separately from Jijad Hijazi, Christopher Heffernan, Nasseam Elkarra, Kenric West and Patrick O’Neal.
If convicted, the defendants face maximum sentences of up to 40 years imprisonment for the drug conspiracy charge, 5 years imprisonment for each of the marijuana possession charges, 10 years imprisonment for felon in possession of firearm charge, and 2o years imprisonment for the money laundering conspiracy charge.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Cotten is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
