U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JUAN CARLOS MOSQUERA-AMARI, age 46, of New Orleans, ALEXANDER MURIEL-DIAZ, age 52, of Houston, Texas, LUIS RAMOS GRAVEDEPERALTA, age 60, of Kenner, CARLOS ALBERTO GONZALEZ VALENCIA, age 36, of Houston, Texas, STEVEN DUNCAN, age 45, of Metairie, JOSE ANTONIO VALVERDE-CHACON, age 37, of Houston, Texas, JOHN JONES, age 43, of New Orleans, HARVEY VICTORIA-CUELLAR, age 38, of Houston, Texas, RODNEY ROBINSON, age 60, of New Orleans, JAVIER CONTRERAS-CASTILLO, age 26, of Houston, and GERARD HARRISON, age 30, of New Orleans were charged in a four-count second superseding indictment with conspiracy to distribute heroin, in violation of Title 21 United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846. ROBINSON was charged with one count of distribution of heroin. JONES was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). HARRISON was also charged with possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
According to the second superseding indictment, the defendants conspired with each other and others between July 19, 2017 and June 1, 2018, to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin.
In addition, according to the second superseding indictment, on April 5, 2018, JONES possessed three firearms, a Glock Model 27,.40-caliber semiautomatic firearm, a Ruger Model P89, 9mm firearm, and a Ruger Model SR22,.22 caliber firearm. JONES had previously been convicted in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana of a felony offense.
Furthermore, the second superseding indictment charges that HARRISON possessed an Anderson Manufacturing Model AM-15 rifle and a Glock Model 22,.40-caliber firearm in furtherance of the drug conspiracy.
If convicted of the drug conspiracy, the defendants face a mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment, a maximum term of imprisonment of life, a fine of up to $10,000,000, at least 5 years of supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
If convicted of distribution of heroin, ROBINSON faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, at least 3 years of supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
If convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, JONES faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
If convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, HARRISON faces a mandatory minimum of five years imprisonment and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, a fine of up to $250,000, up to five years of supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a second superseding indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan L. Shih and Maria M. Carboni are in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
