Acting United States Attorney April M. Leon has announced the sentencing of five individuals involved in a drug trafficking conspiracy. The sentences were handed down by U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick following an investigation by the Middle District Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). This task force targeted a significant cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine trafficking network operating out of Iberville Parish.
Barold Raven, 47, from St. Gabriel, Louisiana, received a sentence of 120 months in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine. He was also convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and possession of a firearm related to drug trafficking. Raven will serve five years of supervised release after his imprisonment.
Dedrick Ambeau, 44, also from St. Gabriel, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and distribution of heroin. Ambeau will have three years of supervised release following his prison term.
Jake Henry Gordon III, 46, from Greenwell Springs, Louisiana, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Gordon will serve three years of supervised release after his imprisonment.
Leo Sternfels, 65, from Gonzales, Louisiana, received a sentence of 12 months and one day in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. Sternfels will also have three years of supervised release following his time in prison.
In a related case, Charles J. Alexander Jr., 40, from St. Gabriel, Louisiana was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Alexander will serve three years of supervised release after completing his sentence.
The defendants admitted their involvement in distributing drugs across Iberville Parish as well as Ascension Parish East Baton Rouge Parish West Feliciana Parish between February 2019 and October 2019.
The investigation was conducted by several agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office Gonzales Police Department East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office Baton Rouge Police Department and Louisiana State Police Assistant United States Attorney William K Morris prosecuted the case
This operation is part of the OCDETF program which aims at dismantling high-level criminal organizations through a multi-agency approach More information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF
