Press Releases
ELEVEN LOCAL MEN FACE
FEDERAL GUN CHARGES
June 28, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Eleven individuals were charged federally in separate indictments on firearms charges resulting from pursuant to investigations by Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten and ATF Special Agent in Charge David G. Harper.
CASEY LEJEUNE, age 27, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged in a three-count indictment with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony offense. If convicted, LEJEUNE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a fine of $1,000,000.00 and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. In addition, LEJEUNE faces a consecutive term of imprisonment of at least five years up to life imprisonment for his possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
In the other cases, KEN A. BARDELL, 26, of Garyville; GEORGE R. BUCKHALTER, 50, of New Orleans; ROGERS COLEMAN, III, 40, of Harvey; TERRANCE HENDERSON, 33, of New Orleans, RODERICK JOSEPH, 26, of Reserve; ZACHARY LABS, 27, formerly of New Orleans, DAVID WILLIAMS, 34, of New Orleans; EARL WILLIAMS, age 28, of New Orleans; and TRACEY T. WRIGHT, 39, of New Orleans, and one defendant whose case which remains sealed at this time, were each charged in single-count indictments with being felons in possession of firearms.
If convicted, these defendants each face a maximum penalty of ten (10) years, a fine of $250,000.00 and 3 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
On April 29, 2006, according to court documents, St. John the Baptist Parish deputies encountered KEN A. BARDELL who had in his possession a Cobra .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol. BARDELL has two previous felony convictions in St. John Parish, one on June 30, 2003 for possession of cocaine, and one on December 22, 2003 for distribution of cocaine.
The indictment against GEORGE R. BUCKHALTER, charges that on October 18, 2006, an NOPD officer approached BUCKHALTER who had in his possession a RG .22 caliber revolver. BUCKHALTER has a previous felony conviction in Orleans Parish on January 26, 2005 for possession of “crack” cocaine.
According to the indictment against ROGERS COLEMAN, III, on March 22, 2007, COLEMAN had in his possession a Ruger .347 caliber revolver when encountered by Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Deputies. COLEMAN has one previous conviction on March 25, 1996 and two previous convictions on September 19, 1997 in Jefferson Parish for simple burglary.
According to court documents, on August 27, 2006, New Orleans Police Officers encountered TERRANCE HENDERSON who had in his possession a Haskell .45 caliber pistol. HENDERSON has a previous felony conviction in Orleans Parish on August 13, 1997 for possession of “crack” cocaine.
ZACHARY O. LABS, a/k/a Kenneth James, a/k/a Kenny James, a/k/a James R. Kenny, according to court documents, was arrested on November 15, 2006 after a traffic stop when a New Orleans Police Officer encountered LABS who had in his possession a Taurus 9mm pistol, with an obliterated serial number. LABS has previous convictions in November, 1998 in Mississippi for burglary of a commercial building, and in August, 2004 for theft of a motor vehicle.
The indictment against RODERICK JOSEPH charges that on February 19, 2007, JOSEPH had in his possession a Bryco 9mm semi-automatic pistol when encountered by St. John the Baptist Parish Deputies. JOSEPH has a previous conviction on May 22, 2002 in St. John Parish for assault by drive-by shooting.
According to court documents, on July 31, 2006, New Orleans Police Officers encountered DAVID W. WILLIAMS who had in his possession a FIE .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol. WILLIAMS has previous felony convictions in Orleans Parish on October 16, 2002 for attempted possession of heroin and on April 30, 1997 for attempted possession of a firearm by a felon.
The indictment against EARL WILLIAMS charges that in January, 2007, WILLIAMS had in his possession a Kimber Model .45 caliber pistol. WILLIAMS has a previous conviction on May 26, 2004 in Orleans Parish for possession with intent to distribute “crack” cocaine.
According to court documents, between November 3, 2006 and January 2, 2007, TRACEY T. WRIGHT had in his possession a Ruger .45 caliber pistol. WRIGHT has previous felony convictions in Orleans Parish on January 26, 1990 for possession of “crack” cocaine and for possession with intent to distribute “crack” cocaine.
U. S. Attorney Letten, speaking to these indictments,
“I want to offer my gratitude to ATF and to our local law enforcement partners. These indictments are the result of vigilant enforcement efforts by Special Agents of the ATF working together with local law enforcement, such as the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the New Orleans Police Department, who work together every day to protect our community, our citizens and the regions’ recovery.”
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys assigned to the Violent Crime Unit.
