Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JUAN CAZES, age 48, of Lutcher and CRANDALL WASHINGTON, age 44, of Paulina, pleaded guilty on August 7, 2023 before United States District Judge Carl Barbier to a two-count indictment, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.  Count 1 charges each with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five hundred (500) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846. Count 2 charges each with possession with intent to distribute five hundred (500) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A), and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2.

According to filed court documents, in October of 2021, during the course of an investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents arranged for a controlled purchase of two (2) pounds of methamphetamine from CAZES.  The purchase was scheduled to take place on October 28, 2021, in St. James Parish.  Law enforcement had information that WASHINGTON supplied CAZES’s methamphetamine.  On October 28, 2021, CAZES and WASHINGTON were stopped in a vehicle with approximately two (2) pounds or 909 grams of methamphetamine.

At sentencing, CAZES and WASHINGTON face a mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment, up to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, at least 5 years supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee as to each count.  Sentencing before Judge Barbier has been scheduled for November 9, 2023.

The case was investigated by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachal Cassagne and J. Benjamin Myers of the Narcotics Unit.