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News
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: DEA Public Affairs
Number: 202-307-7977
January
25,
2006
Man
Arrested In Plot To Murder DEA Agent
JAN 25 --New
Orleans, Louisana - William J. Renton, Jr., Special Agent In Charge,
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Jim Letten, United States
Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, announced the arrest
of JOHNNIE SIMS last night after he attempted to hire a hit man to
kill a Special Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to the criminal complaint filed in federal
court today, federal agents learned of a plot to kill DEA Special Agent
Chad Scott from cooperating defendants in jail, who indicated that
CHRIS WALKER, who was recently arrested and indicted in federal court
for possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, was seeking
to hire someone to murder Special Agent Scott.
Acting swiftly and decisively, federal agents exploited used this intelligence
and initiated a plan to thwart the planned assassination. A sting operation was
undertaken in which the cooperating defendants provided to WALKER the telephone
number of an undercover agent who was posing as the killer. WALKER then contacted
JOHNNIE SIMS, a blood relative and drug trafficking associate, to pay the undercover
agent to kill Special Agent Scott. SIMS contacted the undercover agent and had
two meetings with him concerning the desire of WALKER and SIMS to kill Special
Agent Scott. SIMS agreed to pay the undercover agent $15,000.00 to complete this
murder.
During the second meeting, SIMS identified a picture of Special Agent Scott,
stating that he wanted him killed as soon as possible. He also paid the undercover
agent a thousand dollars as a down payment for the killing. Shortly after this
meeting DEA Special Agents arrested SIMS, who was in possession of a semi-automatic
pistol at the time of his arrest. After being advised of his rights, SIMS agreed
to cooperate with authorities and confessed to his role in the plot to kill Special
Agent Scott for CHRIS WALKER. CHRIS WALKER remains in jail at this time on federal
drug trafficking charges, and has been detained without bond pending his trial.
This investigation is ongoing and additional suspects are expected to be arrested.
United States Attorney Letten, commenting on the arrest, stated:
“ This arrest and the swift federal response to the vicious plot to
murder a career DEA Special Agent should serve as compelling evidence of our
absolute commitment
to take any steps necessary to protect the lives of law enforcement officers
and citizens alike from those dangerous criminals who prey upon society with
no regard for human life. As we move forward in rebuilding our ravaged region,
the people we serve should take comfort in the knowledge that the men and women
of federal law enforcement will employ every weapon in our arsenal to hunt down
and bring to justice anyone who poses a threat to the lives and safety of our
law enforcement professionals or to those brave citizens who come forward as
witnesses.
My
special thanks and commendation to go to the DEA Special Agent in
Charge
William Renton and for the Special Agents and support personnel
who have brought this and other individuals like him to justice, and
to the dedicated prosecutors and staff who daily act as their partners
in the defense of our way of life.”
Special Agent in Charge Bill Renton stated that he was outraged to
learn that these drug dealers would try to harm a federal agent for
doing his job, serving the people of the United States. He went on
to say that DEA will go to any length necessary to insure the safety
of their personnel.
This case is being prosecuted in federal court by Assistant United States Attorney
Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr., Supervisors of the Drug Unit, and Assistant United
States Attorney Jay Quinlan.
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