Federal Jury Convicts St. John Parish Resident of Narcotics Distribution and Firearms Offenses

U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced yesterday that a federal jury convicted TROY KENDRICK, JR., a St. John Parish resident, for violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act and the Federal Gun Control Act. Following a four-day trial, the jury found KENDRICK guilty of conspiring to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, and of possessing a firearm after being convicted of a prior felony.

According to the evidence presented at trial, from January to August of 2016, KENDRICK and his co-conspirators distributed cocaine in Reserve, Louisiana. KENDRICK sold cocaine to lower-level drug dealers, who in turn sold both powder cocaine and crack cocaine to other dealers and to users. In June of 2016, while federal agents had a wiretap on KENDRICK’s telephone, KENDRICK was involved in a shootout in LaPlace, Louisiana. On August 17, 2016, when law enforcement officers arrested KENDRICK and searched his home pursuant to a search warrant, they found five firearms, a digital scale, over $10,000 cash, a money counter, body armor, ammunition, and a ski mask.

KENDRICK faces up to 30 years in prison for the charge of conspiring to distribute cocaine, and he will be sentenced as a career offender, because of his two prior felony convictions for drug distribution. KENDRICK faces up to 10 years in prison for the charge of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He faces at least 6 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Sentencing will take place before Judge Jane Triche Milazzo.

U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas D. Moses and Edward Rivera were responsible for the prosecution.