Month: February 2016

Harvey man sentenced to 15 years in prison for cruelty to his 3-month-old son

A 24-year-old Harvey man who pleaded guilty to violently shaking his 3-month-old son and causing a severe brain injury was sentenced on Friday (Feb. 5), to 15 years in prison.

Jeffery Lebouef Jr., of the 300 block of Manhattan Boulevard, pleaded guilty as charged on Monday to second-degree cruelty to a juvenile in connection with what authorities say was abusive head trauma, which previously had commonly been called shaken baby syndrome.

Judge Scott Schlegel of the 24th Judicial District Court, who accepted the plea and handed down the sentence, also barred Lebouef from contacting his son’s mother.

Lebouef was arrested on Nov. 4, 2015, after he and his girlfriend rushed their child to Children’s Hospital because he had seizures and was unresponsive, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office arrest report.

Lebouef was at home alone with the child when the seizures began but denied knowing what caused the injuries, according to the report. The mother returned home and called a doctor after discovering her baby’s conviction, detectives wrote.

A Children’s Hospital doctor notified police after finding that the child, who was in critical condition, had an older brain injury in addition to the newer one, according to the report. The mother told detectives that Lebouef had “some animosity” for the child, because he questioned whether he was the father, according to the report.

When confronted by detectives, Lebouef confessed to causing the injuries and lying about them to his girlfriend and doctors, saying “he knew he was in trouble and the baby was hurt,” according to the report.

He told detectives that his son would not stop crying and that he shook the infant violently while yelling, “Why don’t you give me a break,” according to the report.

He said he dropped the baby off a bed and then threw the baby about two feet onto a bassinet, causing the infant’s head to bounce, detectives wrote.

In impact testimony on Friday, the baby’s mother said her son suffers from lingering effects of the shaking and possibly faces surgery as a result of the incident.

Assistant District Attorney Lindsay Truhe prosecuted the case.

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Harvey Hustlers racketeering case nets three more guilty pleas

Another three men with ties to the West Jefferson-based Harvey Hustlers street gang pleaded guilty Monday (Feb. 1) in a narcotics racketeering case and were sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

Richard Chess, Carlnell Pierce and Charlie Gumms were among the 21 defendants named in a 30-count indictment filed last year in Jefferson Parish’s 24th Judicial District Court. With Monday’s pleas, only two of the 21 defendants still have open racketeering cases.

Chess, 24, of Harvey, pleaded guilty to racketeering, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute heroin, distribution of heroin and cruelty to juveniles. Judge Henry Sullivan, who has presided over the Harvey Hustler cases, ran Chess’s sentences for each count concurrently, for a total of 20 years.

Chess also pleaded guilty as a double offender under Louisiana’s habitual offender law, for a 2009 conviction of simple escape. His 15-year sentence for Count 2 was increased to 20 years, and run concurrently with his other sentences.

Pierce, 35, of Harvey, pleaded guilty to racketeering, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute heroin, distribute of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. His sentences also were run concurrently, totaling 20 years.

Pierce also pleaded guilty as a double offender for his 2009 conviction of attempted possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The 15-year prison sentence he received for Count 2 was increased to 20 years and run concurrently with his other sentences.

Gumms, 20, of Terrytown, pleaded guilty to racketeering, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute heroin and five counts of attempted second-degree murder. He was sentenced to 25 years on each count, and Sullivan ran the sentences concurrently for a total of 25 years.

The attempted-murder charges stem from an April 22, 2013, shooting at the Lapalco Apartments, in the 2300 block of Lapalco Boulevard in Harvey. Authorities say at least two armed men stood outside an apartment and began shooting into the front door. A 1-year-old girl was left paralyzed, and two toddlers, ages 2 and 3, were injured. Additionally, two women, ages 63 and 67, were struck by bullets.

Chess, Pierce and Gumms admitted to roles in the criminal enterprise in which cocaine and heroin was funneled into the area from Texas and sold on New Orleans-area streets. The racketeering offense involved the gang’s activities from January 2006 through January 2015, according to the bill of indictment.

The gang, whose roots date to the 1980s in Harvey’s Scotsdale neighborhood, protected its narcotics trafficking and distribution ring through its enforcement arm known as the Murder Squad. At least seven homicides have been tied to people affiliated with the Harvey Hustlers through the joint local and federal investigation, authorities say.

Through a cooperative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana and the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office, prosecutors have decided which jurisdiction to bring the cases. Federal prosecutors have handled numerous Harvey Hustler cases in U.S. District Court in New Orleans.

In February 2015, prosecutors in Jefferson Parish obtained the 21-defendant indictment in state court. As of Monday, 19 have either pleaded guilty or were convicted at trial. A look of the defendants whose cases have been adjudicated shows:

  • Bryant Gumms, 24, of Harvey, pleaded guilty Thursday (Jan. 28), to racketeering, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute heroin. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
  • Derrick Gumms, 27, of Harvey, pleaded guilty Thursday (Jan. 28), to racketeering, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute heroin. He, too, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Bryant and Derrick are siblings.
  • Robert C. Williams, 24, of Avondale, was convicted by a Jefferson Parish jury as charged on Nov. 11 of racketeering, two counts of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, two counts of convicted felon in possession of a firearm, illegal possession of a stolen firearm and distribution of cocaine. He was sentenced to 75 years in prison on Jan. 19.
  • Alcus Smith, 29, of Harvey, stood trial with Williams and was convicted of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute narcotics and distribution of cocaine. He was sentenced to 65 years in prison on Nov. 17. The jury that handed up the verdict was unable to decide Smith’s charge of second-degree murder. Prosecutors plan to retry Smith for the second-degree murder charge.
  • Willie Thornton, 31, of Harvey, pleaded guilty Jan. 13 to racketeering, two counts of conspiracy to distribute narcotics and two counts of distribution of cocaine. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Jan. 13.
  • Lashawn Davis, 22, of Gretna, pleaded guilty as charged on Nov. 30 to racketeering, five counts of attempted second-degree murder and two counts of conspiracy to distribute narcotics. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
  • Davante D. Robertson, 21, of Gretna, pleaded guilty on Dec. 15 to racketeering and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Prosecutors dismissed five counts of attempted second-degree murder.
  • Ellis C. Landix, 30, of Marrero, pleaded guilty on Jan. 13 to conspiracy to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison as a multiple offender.
  • Paul Smith, 26, of Avondale, pleaded guilty Sept. 28, to racketeering, two counts of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute oxycodone. He was sentenced to eight years in prison.
  • Brandon J. Motton, 29, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on Jan. 199, to racketeering, two counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, marijuana and heroin, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
  • Keitrel B. Gumms, 25, of Harvey, pleaded guilty Jan. 13 to racketeering, two counts conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana, respectively, distribution of cocaine, distribution of marijuana and cruelty to juveniles. His sentencing is set for Feb. 29.
  • Stephanie J. Bradley, 44, of Harvey, pleaded guilty to racketeering on Oct. 19. Her sentencing is set for Feb. 16.
  • Corey H. Trent, 26, of Marrero, pleaded guilty on Aug 17, to racketeering, two counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, marijuana and cocaine, distribution of cocaine and cruelty to juveniles. He was sentenced to eight years on prison.
  • Kentaz R. Gayden, 28, of Harahan, pleaded guilty on Dec. 11 to racketeering and two counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, marijuana and heroin. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
  • Rasheed Smith, 25, of Westwego, pleaded guilty on Jan. 4 to racketeering and two counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, marijuana and heroin. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
  • Nathan Carter, 31, of Gretna, pleaded guilty on Oct. 8 to racketeering and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Two defendants still have open cases:

  • Charles D. Gumms, 21, of Terrytown, awaits trial on charges of racketeering, two counts of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession or distribution of a legend drug without a prescription. Charles Gumms and Charlie Gumms, who pleaded guilty Monday, are siblings.
  • Kerry J. Reynard, 26, of Marrero, is charged with racketeering and two counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, marijuana and heroin.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant District Attorneys Doug Freese and Seth Shute prosecuted them.

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Tavis Joseph sentenced to life in prison in Harvey double murder case

More than six months after he was convicted at his trial, a West Bank man was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison Monday (Feb. 1), in connection with the 2013 slayings of two Southern University students who were gunned down in Harvey’s Woodmere subdivision.

Tavis C. Joseph, 22, was convicted July 30 of two counts of second-degree murder in the Aug. 13, 2013 deaths of Nikiayah Westerfield and Dave Harrison. The victims were both 19 and college students when they were killed during what authorities say was an ambush during a marijuana sale in the 4000 block of Paige Janette Drive.

Chief Judge Conn Regan of the 24th Judicial District Court handed down the mandatory life sentences after denying Joseph’s request for a new trial. Regan ran the sentences concurrently.

Authorities say Joseph was one of four suspects who arranged to purchase an ounce of marijuana valued at $350 from the victims, according to evidence presented in court. One of those four suspects was never identified, while three have been convicted.

Irvin Harris, 23, of Harvey, was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder, illegal possession of a stolen firearm and conspiracy to obstruct justice in December 2014 and was sentenced to two mandatory life sentences in prison.

Jerremy Coleman, 22, of Waggaman, pleaded guilty last year to two counts of manslaughter in the case and received a 30-year prison sentence. Coleman, who was armed with a stolen Kimber .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol, was left partially paralyzed when he was shot during the incident. Detectives say that Harrison was armed with a pistol and began shooting after the suspects opened fire.

Meanwhile, Harris’ parents, Edward Harris, 40, and Kanetra T. Whyte, 38, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice. They were accused of trying to help their son beat the murder charges.

Whyte was sentenced to three years of probation, while Edward Harris was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

At the time he attempted to help his son, Edward Harris was serving a 45-year sentence in a state prison for his conviction of a double homicide in Marrero in 1994.

Assistant District Attorneys Doug Freese and Thomas Sanderson prosecuted the cases, which were investigated by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.

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