United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin announced today that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced KENNETH TERRELL ROBERTSON, a/k/a “Terrell" and “K-Lo," age 40, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to 108 months in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. The Court further sentenced ROBERTSON to three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. Also, as a result of his conviction, ROBERTSON must forfeit to the United States all proceeds obtained as a result of his criminal conduct.
ROBERTSON was charged as a result of an extensive federal, state, and local investigation aimed at a drug trafficking network based in Ascension Parish and covering Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. The drug trafficking organization, led by Arthur Johnson (“Johnson"), distributed multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin in and around Hattiesburg, Mississippi and Ascension Parish Louisiana. Under the direction of Johnson, members of his criminal organization used public and private places as well as cellular telephones listed in the names of others to arrange and carry out the purchase and sale of cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin. ROBERTSON served as Johnson’s point of sales in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Johnson arranged for cocaine to be shipped from Ascension Parish to ROBERTSON in Hattiesburg. After receiving the cocaine, ROBERTSON would store the cocaine and distribute it to other members of the organization for resale in and around Hattiesburg.
U.S. Attorney Fremin stated, “This conviction is another step in dismantling a multi-state criminal organization that brings dangerous drugs to our neighborhoods. This sentence should send a message to those who choose to profit from the dangerous drugs they peddle. Our office will use all federal, state, and local resources available to remove such criminals from our streets."
FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric Rommal stated, "Our main focus throughout this joint investigation was to identify, disrupt, and dismantle all echelons within Arthur Johnson’s drug enterprise. This was a shining example of great teamwork and precision between our federal, state, and local partners, as well as our federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The residents of Ascension Parish can rest assured their community is safer today now that Arthur Johnson and his lieutenant Kenneth Robertson are in prison."
The investigation is another effort by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program which was established in 1982 to mount a comprehensive attack against organized drug traffickers. Today, the OCDETF Program is the centerpiece of the United States Attorney General’s drug strategy to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations and money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises. The OCDETF Program operates nationwide and combines the resources and unique expertise of numerous federal, state, and local agencies in a coordinated attack against major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.
This OCDETF operation was investigated by the FBI Baton Rouge Capitol Area Gang Task Force, which is an FBI Safe Street Task Force that includes the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office and Baton Rouge Police Department, with assistance from the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Resident Agency, and Hattiesburg, Mississippi Police Department. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jamie A. Flowers, Jr., J. Brad Casey, and Demetrius Sumner.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
