Tangipahoa Parish Men Plead Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that JERRY PEA, age 42 of Ponchatoula, and JAMES JACKSON, age 35 of Hammond, pleaded guilty yesterday to narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses in Hammond, Louisiana.

PEA pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute over 28 grams of crack cocaine and quantities of heroin between March and May 2018, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), (b)(1)(C), and 846. JACKSON pled guilty to distributing quantities of crack cocaine and heroin on March 26, 2018, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). Each defendant also pled guilty to possessing a firearm during a narcotics transaction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A).

For the respective narcotics offenses, PEA faces a term of imprisonment of 5-40 years, a fine of up to $5 million, and at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, whereas JACKSON faces a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years, a fine of up to $1 million, and at least three years of supervised release. For the respective gun charges, PEA and JACKSON face terms of imprisonment of five years to life running consecutive to any other sentence, fines of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release.

Sentencing is set before Judge Africk on March 14, 2019, at 9:00 a.m.

United States Attorney Strasser praised the work of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office and the Hammond Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Sandman is in charge of the prosecution.