News and Press Releases

BROWARD COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE ON DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2010

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Joyce Dawley, Special Agent in Charge, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Bruce Colton, St. Lucie County State Attorney, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Sean Baldwin, Chief, Fort Pierce Police Department, J.R. “Jack” Parker, Sheriff, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Al Lamberti, Sheriff, Broward County Sheriff’s Office, and Ken Mascara, Sheriff, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, announced that on June 7, 2010, U.S. District Court Judge K. Michael Moore sentenced defendant Frank Pierre, 36, of Pompano Beach, to life imprisonment for his participation in a multi-kilogram cocaine smuggling and distribution conspiracy.

In November 2008, ATF, DEA, FDLE, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Lucie State Attorney’s Office began an investigation of Todd Jackson Sr.’s drug distribution network, which was alleged to be operating in the Treasure Coast and Brevard County. During the course of this 8-month investigation, law enforcement learned that this network was part of a larger cocaine trafficking organization based out of Broward and Palm Beach Counties. This organization was importing multiple kilograms of cocaine from Haiti and the Bahamas for distribution in Broward, Palm Beach, St. Lucie and Brevard Counties. During the course of this investigation, agents executed state and federal search warrants at various locations in St. Lucie, Brevard, Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

The operation resulted in the seizure of approximately 243 kilograms of cocaine powder, 80.5 grams of crack cocaine, 477 grams of marijuana, 618 grams of ecstasy, 12 firearms, $114,002 in cash, and jewelry valued at approximately $443,855. Pierre was convicted by a jury on March 4, 2010, following a two day trial in Fort Pierce, of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the DEA, ATF, the FDLE, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Lucie County State Attorney’s Office, the Fort Pierce Police Department, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, and the Broward State Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Millien.

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A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.