Hilda Voisin Buquet
August 25, 2009
Mary Little McFarland
August 27, 2009
Local and federal undercover agents arrested a key member of a Houston-based gang last week responsible for moving multiple kilos of cocaine through St. Mary Parish on a weekly basis.
A federal grand jury rendered a 21-count indictment against members of the Hater Hurterz (pronounced hurters), a known drug trafficking organization. According to U.S. Attorney Donald Washington of the Western District of Louisiana, the bust ends a 36-month multi-jurisdictional investigation between Houston and St. Mary.
“These are big hits,” Washington said at a news conference last Wednesday announcing the arrests. “There is a reason for (the alleged gang members) to be concerned. There is a reason for their families to be concerned. They will not be seeing each other for a long time.”
Washington said the investigation into drug trafficking is ongoing, and more arrests are likely. “There are also more reasons for anyone else connected with them to be concerned.”
St. Mary Sheriff David Naquin hailed the arrest of 10 key players in the alleged drug ring. “This is a good day for the good folks and a bad day for the bad guys,” he said at the news conference. “If you dealt with this group of people, I would be worried. You may get a knock on your door before you know it.”
Naquin said Washington approached him about launching an investigation nearly three years ago. Along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the six-agency St. Mary Parish Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force began tracking the suspected traffickers. The task force includes officers from the Lafayette, Iberia and St. Landry parish sheriff’s offices, the Lafayette and Morgan City police departments and the Louisiana State Police.
The indictments handed out last week include a number of felony charges, ranging from conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine to unlawful use of a communication facility (a cell phone).
Washington refused to assign a street value to the narcotics moved through St. Mary Parish. However, he did say the indictments allege the organization Hater Hurterz was responsible for distributing five kilos or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of crack. Members also allegedly transported money derived from the drug sales back to Houston, he said.
Three of the alleged gang members, if convicted, could face life in prison, Washington said. The three – Kim James Butler Jr., 27; Ty Anthony Williams, 33, both of Patterson; and Harold Anthony Holly, 32, of Centerville – were charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base and unlawful use of communication facility. Williams was also charged with distribution of cocaine.
Two suspected gang members – Cornelius James Kelly, 30, of Patterson, and Willie Alfred Jr., 29, of Jeanerette – are facing 20-year prison terms if convicted. Kelly was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, unlawful use of a communication facility and distribution of cocaine. Alfred was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, distribution of cocaine and unlawful use of a communication facility.
The five other suspects indicted last week – Roderick Wayne Caraway, 42, of Houston; Tiffany Nicole Williams, 25, of Patterson; and Siracusaville residents Richard Lamon Cross Jr., 20; Jahmar Kelly, 21; and Patrick Ray, 21 – face a minimum 10 years in prison if convicted.
All five were charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base and unlawful use of a communication facility. Williams, Cross and Kelly were also charged with distribution of cocaine.
Naquin said the arrests were made as early as 5 a.m. last Tuesday. All 10 arrests were made without incident, he said.
Cornelius Kelly was the alleged mastermind behind the trafficking scheme, according to Washington. He and Butler were already incarcerated on charges stemming from an earlier Patterson Police arrest.
The sheriff said one of the suspects surrendered to authorities, while another, located in Siracusaville, initially locked himself inside the residence when police arrived. An FBI negotiator helped talk the man into surrendering.
Neither Naquin nor Washington would release the identity of the alleged dealer who turned himself in to police. “The reason is because once a shower of reality hits these people, they will begin to talk,” Washington explained.
At last week’s news event, Washington and Naquin indicated that there has been a resurgence of “loosely organized” gang activity in St. Mary Parish over the last five to six years. “But there are more want-to-be gang members than actual gang members,” the sheriff said.
Many are identifiable by common dress or tattoos, Washington said. “But I can assure that after today, there aren’t going to be too many gang members left,” he added.
Morgan City Police Chief Marc Folse, who was also on hand at last week’s conference, is asking for the public’s support in stopping the local drug trade. “It’s our hope that others in the community take notice that we’re finding the bad guys, rooting them out and incarcerating them for a long time.”
U.S. Attorney Donald Washington (at left) updates the public on indictments issued against 10 suspected gang members who were allegedly trafficking kilos of cocaine and crack cocaine through St. Mary Parish. St. Mary Parish Sheriff David Naquin (center) and Maj. Mark Hebert look on. * Photo by HOWARD J. CASTAY JR.
