Resolution of OCDETF Case Results in the Sentencing of Ten Defendants to a Total of Over 59 Years in Federal Prison

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the resolution of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) case in Shreveport. This case involved the trafficking of cocaine and crack cocaine, money laundering and theft of government funds. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote sentenced the following defendants who were convicted as follows:

This OCDETF investigation began in 2020 into drug trafficking activities of the above defendants. Law enforcement agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) learned that all of these defendants were distributing cocaine and crack cocaine in the Shreveport and Bossier City and in other parts of Northwest Louisiana. Specifically, agents learned that between January 2020 and May 2022, Pouncy would arrange for the transportation of cocaine and crack cocaine from Houston, Texas into the Western District of Louisiana. Once the drugs arrived in the district, Pouncy and Steadman would distribute the drugs to their co-defendants to be sold and distributed. The defendants were using residences in Keithville and Shreveport to distribute the cocaine. Evidence established that Pouncy and Steadman trafficked 17 kilograms of cocaine into the Western District of Louisiana, with an estimated street value of $600,000.

During their investigation, law enforcement agents received consent to monitor electronic communications on the cellular telephone numbers for Steadman, Pea and Hill and were able to intercept calls between these defendants about drug transactions that were taking place. In 2021, agents learned that Steadman deposited over $40,000 in cash deposits to his bank accounts but according to his income tax returns, he reported no income that year. In addition to his involvement in the drug trafficking conspiracy, Steadman applied for a fraudulent Payroll Protection Program (“PPP”) loan. In his PPP loan application, Steadman claimed that he operated a cattle breeding business in Shreveport and that he had three employees with an average monthly payroll of over $17,000. In addition, Steadman submitted false Schedule C documentation stating he had over $499,000 in gross receipts for his cattle business in tax year 2019 and also claimed to have over $200,000 in advertising, trucking, labor and other expenses. Based upon the false representations in the PPP loan application, Steadman received $28,889 in PPP loan benefits on June 2, 2021. Steadman admitted that he made these representations in his application knowing they were false.

Demetrius D. Richmond, Stacey M. Armstrong, and Evin A. Page admitted to getting their cocaine supply from Reginald Pea and Jamaal Hill and then sold and distributed cocaine and crack cocaine to others. Roderick Agnes was found with cocaine, digital scales, and currency during the execution of a search warrant. In addition, Agnes had three firearms: a loaded Taurus PT1911 .45 caliber, a loaded Century Arms Canik TP9 9mm, and a Maverick Arms Model 88 12 gauge shotgun in his possession.

Brandi Nicole Dorsey pleaded guilty to a Bill of Information charging her with misprision of a felony concerning her knowledge of the distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine and her concealment of same. Natalie Lane pleaded guilty to making false statements at a detention hearing conducted in United States District Court on December 22, 2022, wherein she testified on behalf of Anthony Pouncy.  Lane admitted to knowingly making false statements during her testimony before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hornsby and inducing him to release Pouncy pending trial.

“This was an investigation that addresses some of the priorities of the Department of Justice, which include high level drug trafficking, money laundering, PPP loan fraud,  and illegal firearm possession,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown  “The OCDETF program’s goal is to attack interstate drug trafficking activity and violent crime using multiple federal and state law enforcement agencies.  The culmination of this investigation proves that the federal government’s reach is far and wide and if drug dealers utilize major metropolitan areas in other states to move drugs into the Western District of Louisiana, you will be indicted, prosecuted and sentenced to lengthy sentences of imprisonment.” 

The case was investigated by DEA, FBI, ATF, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and Shreveport Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy.

The investigation and conviction of these defendants is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

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