BATON ROUGE, LA - United States Attorney Walt Green announced that the eighth and final defendant arising from Operation Road Block, an extensive investigation into a drug trafficking network operation in the Baton Rouge region, has been convicted following a federal jury trial. The other seven defendants had already been convicted.
Yesterday evening, a federal jury unanimously convicted WILBERT MATHES, age 41, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on seven counts of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams ore more of cocaine and cocaine base; distribution of cocaine; possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; and unlawful use of a communications facility. The verdict followed a four day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick. MATHES was remanded into custody following his conviction and awaits sentencing.
The evidence at trial established that, between August 2010 and July 2011, MATHES had mult-kilogram shipments of cocaine transported from Houston, Texas to Baton Rouge and sold that cocaine for profit throughout the Baton Rouge area and elsewhere. This drug enterprise included MATHES, Joell Leggins, Marcus Thornton, Damond Reynard Lockett, Lamont Jackson, and Broderick Mathes.
U.S. Attorney Green stated: “This jury verdict and today’s conviction is a strong reminder of my office’s commitment to fighting the drug trade and those who traffic cocaine for profit. I appreciate the hard work of the DEA, our dedicated state and local law enforcement partners, and our prosecutors, who are working hard to keep cocaine and other dangerous drugs out of our community.”
DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley stated, “This guilty verdict signifies that law enforcement will not tolerate drug dealing in our communities. The DEA and our law enforcement partners are committed to identifying every individual within a drug trafficking organization who is responsible for purveying our city with illegal narcotics.”
This matter was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance from Baton Rouge Police Departmant, West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office and Federal Bureau of Alchol, Tobacco and Firearms. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Kleinpeter and Jessica Thornhill.