Press Releases
TWO “BROTHER’S IN ARMS” DEFENDANTS SENTENCED TO LENGTHY FEDERAL JAIL TERMS
July 19, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JEREME THOMAS, age 20, and EDDIE CHANEY, age 28, both residents of New Orleans, were sentenced to long prison terms for their role in the “Brother’s In Arms” drug conspiracy that took place in Central City, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
On November 3, 2006, a Federal Grand Jury returned a 32-count Superseding Indictment against nine defendants as the result of an investigation named “Brothers-In-Arms”, which targeted the main street level dealers of crack cocaine, heroin, and marijuana in Central City. The purpose of the investigation was to strike at the heart of not only the drug trade in the area, but the gun violence that has exploded in that area as well.
JEREME THOMAS, a/k/a “Skinny”, TRAVIS RANDOLPH, MICHAEL RANDOLPH, a/k/a “Pie”, RONNELL VALLERY, a/k/a “Pappa”, KENTRON MATHIEU, a/k/a “Tron”, JEREMIAH THOMAS, a/k/a “Fat”, LEROY CARTER, a/k/a “Juice”, EDDIE CHANEY, and TONEY JONES, a/k/a “Boochie”, all of New Orleans, Louisiana, were charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base (crack), cocaine hydrochloride, heroin, and marijuana; conspiracy to use firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking activity; using a house located in the 1900 block Second Street as a “crack house”; and various other violations of federal narcotics and firearms laws. To date, all of the defendants have pled guilty to significant charges, except for TONEY JONES a/k/a “Bouchie”, who, at the present time, is a fugitive.
All of the defendants have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing, except TONY JONES a/k/a “Boochie”, who until recently was a fugitive. JONES was arrested by the United States Marshal’s Service and has subsequently been detained pending trial, which is currently set for August 6, 2007. If convicted, he could face a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison.
On April 23, 2007, JEREME THOMAS, a/k/a “Skinny” pled guilty to participating the drug and firearms conspiracy. As detailed in the factual basis that was filed in open court, law enforcement officers were able to capture some incidents of firearms violence on one of the City of New Orleans crime cameras. In one incident on June 1, 2006 at approximately 5:00 P.M., NOPD Officers, who were conducting surveillance via a crime camera, recognized JEREME THOMAS standing outside the Second Street residence with several other individuals and observed JEREME THOMAS make a hand gesture to the occupants of a Toyota Camry as it drove by. When the vehicle returned, officers observed JEREME THOMAS produce a firearm and fire several rounds at the vehicle as two very young children were sitting just feet away. The officers then observed JEREME THOMAS flee the area in another vehicle driven by his mother. Immediately after the shooting, officers observed approximately twenty people exit the Second Street residence.
Furthermore, JEREME THOMAS admitted that he was responsible for distributing between 50 and 150 grams of crack cocaine throughout the Central City area during the course of the conspiracy.
On April 17, 2007, EDDIE CHANEY also pled guilty to participating in the drug and firearms conspiracy. CHANEY admitted that he was responsible for distributing between 50 and 150 grams of crack cocaine throughout the Central City area during the course of the conspiracy.
After viewing the video tape at the sentencing hearing today, United States District Judge Lance Africk stated that he was grateful that the U. S. Attorney took this case “because the rubber has finally hit the road in federal court and I am able to send you away to serve a lengthy sentence.” Judge Africk further stated that the defendant had “one of the worse records I’ve ever seen.” Based on the severity of the crime, Judge Africk sentenced JEREME THOMAS to serve twenty (20) years (240 months) in federal prison, and ten (10) years supervised release.
When defendant EDDIE CHANEY attempted to apologize to the court, Judge Africk admonished the defendant, stating, “Everybody starts that way. Sorry does not cut it for me because you were running with a bad group. . .” He sentenced EDDIE CHANEY to serve 135 months in federal prison, and five (5) years of supervised release.
Previously, Judge Africk sentenced co-defendants MICHAEL RANDOLPH to serve 300 months (25 years) and RONNELL VALLERY to serve 240 months (20 years).
The remaining defendants are set for formal sentencing within the next few weeks. This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives along with members of the New Orleans Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr. and Duane Evans.
