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Defendants Used a Broken-Down School Bus as a Stash House

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that Joseph Brown, age 45, a resident of Orleans Parish plead guilty today to conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack. Brown is facing a sentence of five to forty years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least four years of supervised release upon his release from prison.  Brown also faces a $100 mandatory special assessment cost.

According to court records, Brown and four others, Lionel Cooley, Kendrick Demourelle, Kevin Gray, and Blake Monroe, conspired to sell illegal narcotics in New Orleans, including using a broken-down yellow school bus in the ‘Goose’ neighborhood in New Orleans East as a stash house. All five were indicted in February 2020, and, according to court records, a seized GMC Sierra pickup truck used by a member of this conspiracy contained nearly two kilograms of cocaine and 430 grams of crack. The evidence against Brown includes numerous intercepted communications, physical and video surveillance, seized drugs, and witness statements.  U.S. District Judge Wendy Vitter will sentence Brown on November 5, 2021.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Hammond Police Department, New Orleans Police Department, and Slidell Police Department in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney David Howard Sinkman is in charge of the prosecution.