Los Angeles Gang Member Convicted Of Heroin Conspiracy And Obstruction Of Justice Involving Murder Of A Federal Witness
NEW ORLEANS - Quenshey Mitchell, a/k/a "Ripper" "Baby Ripper", and "Q", age 36, from Los Angeles, California, was convicted on January 10, 2014 of all six counts of a superseding indictment which included charges of conspiracy to distribute in excess of a kilogram of heroin, multiple conspiracies to obstruct justice, including conspiracies to obstruct justice through murder and two counts of obstruction of justice through murder in federal court following a four day trial, announced DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Brown and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr.
The trial evidence showed Mitchell to be the Los Angeles source of supply of multiple kilograms of heroin being transported to New Orleans by female couriers. Cristina S. Williams, who had previously been charged in the Eastern District of Louisiana for her role in transporting heroin, was murdered in Los Angeles on July 29, 2010, as the Drug Enforcement Administration'(DEA) investigation progressed to identify the leaders of the heroin conspiracy. After Ms. Williams's murder, Mitchell, a member of the Rollin Sixty Crip gang in Los Angeles was indicted in New Orleans for his role in the heroin conspiracy and following an investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and DEA's investigation of Ms. Williams's murder, Mitchell was indicted in the six count superseding indictment.
Mitchellfaces the following terms of imprisonment:
- Counts (heroin conspiracy) - life imprisonment as a result of Mitchell's two prior felony drug convictions;
- Counts 2 (conspiracy to obstruct justice through murder) - life imprisonment for each count;
- Counts 3 (obstruction of justice through murder) - life imprisonment for each count; and
- Count (conspiracy to obstruct justice) - maximum term of 20 years imprisonment.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 10, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon.
The case was investigated by special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration and detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorneys William J. Quinlan, Jr. and Harry W. McSherry.
Parents and children are encouraged to educate themselves about the dangers of drugs by visiting DEA's interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.
