United States Drug Enforcement Administration

APR 02  (NEW ORLEANS) -  Twelve individuals indicted in the Eastern District of Louisiana face drug and conspiracy charges as a result of an extensive three-year investigation that targeted a heroin drug trafficking organization in New Orleans, announced Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Keith Brown and U. S. Attorney Kenneth Allen Polite Jr. 

Terence Taylor a/k/a "Peezy" a/k/a "Sonny", 35; Arthur McKinnis a/k/a "Notchy", 23; Noel Jones a/k/a "Skinny" a/k/a "Noe", 26; Terrell Dyer a/k/a "T", 29; Percy Depron a/k/a "Doo", 27; Ernest Diaz a/k/a "E.O.", 24; Malcolm Bolden a/k/a "Little Mac", 19; Terrell Davis a/k/a "Fest", 22; Melvin Smith a/k/a "Mel", 29; Theodore Griffin a/k/a "Old Timer" a/k/a "Nokie", 59; Narcisse Trotter a/k/a "Nerk", 43; and Aaronisha Lewis a/k/a "Molly", 24; all residents of New Orleans, were charged in a thirty count federal indictment on Thursday, March 27, 2014, for conspiring to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin in the New Orleans area from January 2011 to the present.  The indictment was unsealed today.

Taylor and Bolden are also charged with distribution of heroin on or about July 26, 2013, resulting in the death of Kevin Ryan.  Several of the defendants are charged with additional counts of distributing heroin and using telephones in furtherance of heroin trafficking.  According to the indictment, Griffin faces an additional charge of maintaining a drug-involved premise for allowing a residence in New Orleans to be used for drug-related activities.

 "The arrests made today are part of DEA's response to the addiction, crime, violence, and despair brought on by the growing threat of heroin," stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Brown.  "Heroin is a killer that does not discriminate.  It destroys lives, families, and hope in every segment of society; and the individuals who sell heroin are spreading potential death in every foil package sold on the streets of this country.  DEA, working shoulder to shoulder with law enforcement agencies across the New Orleans area, is fully committed to stopping the spread of this deadly drug and to bringing to justice those who profit from the misery created by heroin."

 "The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office has a long-standing and proud partnership with our federal law enforcement partners.  The work we do together is helping remove life- threatening drugs from our communities and making sure that those who would supply these drugs to others face the consequences of their actions," stated St. Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain.
 
U. S. Attorney Kenneth Allen Polite Jr., reiterated the charges in the indictment are only allegations, and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case has been investigated jointly by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Redmann, assigned from the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office, and Assistant United States Attorney Mark Miller.

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.