Press Releases
ALIEN SENTENCED AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO IMPROPER ENTRY
January 23, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HARRIS ROBERTSON, age 31 of Kentwood, Louisiana, was sentenced today to fifty-one (51) months in federal prison for distributing drugs to inmates in the Tangipahoa Parish Jail, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
In handing down the sentence, United States District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon denied the defendant’s request for leniency and sentenced the defendant within the federal sentencing guidelines.
According to court documents, ROBERTSON was arrested on Thursday March 15, 2007 while in possession of approximately 15 grams of cocaine base (crack). According to court records, agents learned from cooperating individuals that ROBERTSON was smuggling contraband such as marijuana, alcohol, cellular telephones, and crack cocaine into the jail. Based on this information, DEA Special Agents and members of the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Department set up a sting operation using an undercover officer who posed as an inmate’s family member who was trying to get contraband into the jail. During a meeting, the undercover officer gave ROBERTSON alcohol, some bottled water, and 15 grams of crack cocaine to bring to an inmate. ROBERTSON agreed to do this and charged the undercover officer $300. Shortly thereafter ROBERTSON was arrested.
On June 27, 2007, ROBERTSON pled guilty to a one count indictment charging him with possession with the intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base (crack).
This investigation were conducted by Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr.
