Independence Man Sentenced to 235 Months in Federal Prison for Drug Conviction (DOJ)

United States Attorney Kurt Wall announced the sentencing of Michael D. Nelson, age 56 of Independence, Louisiana, in connection with an extensive federal, state, and local investigation aimed at a large-scale cocaine and heroin trafficking network based in East Baton Rouge and Ascension Parishes.

U.S. District Court Judge John deGravelles sentenced Nelson to 235 months in federal prison following his convictions of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Nelson to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. In imposing Nelson's prison term, the Court found that from approximately July 2017 through February 2018, Nelson ran a drug trafficking business and, pending trial, obstructed justice, made false statements to law enforcement, and threatened a witness. In total, the Court found Nelson responsible for ten kilograms of cocaine and over 280 grams of methamphetamine.

According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, Nelson was associated with Travis James, who led a group of co-conspirators, namely Troy James, Joshua Mansion, Kim Murphy, Yascia LaFrance, Belinda Carter, Cornelius Carter, and others in a venture to obtain kilograms of cocaine from various sources in Houston, Texas, and transport said cocaine to stash houses located in Baton Rouge and Prairieville. Some amounts of cocaine were broken down for distribution to others, including Nelson, while other amounts were converted by James into crack cocaine for sale to others.

In many instances, the amounts transported by this group into the Middle District involved five or more kilograms of cocaine per trip. During this investigation, authorities seized and forfeited over $500,000 in drug trafficking proceeds from James as well as approximately eight firearms, two kilo presses, and heroin and cocaine testing kits. The investigation also revealed that James was making plans to branch out into heroin trafficking using the money he had accumulated from the sale of crack and powder cocaine. He was planning to commence that enterprise by purchasing a kilogram of heroin.

Chief Judge Dick previously sentenced seven other individuals in connection with this scheme. Travis R. James, age 42, of Port Allen, Louisiana, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 280 grams or more of cocaine base, and one or more kilograms of heroin. The Court further sentenced James to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

Troy James, age 39, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 115 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and heroin. The Court further sentenced James to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

Joshua Mansion, age 38, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and 28 grams or more of cocaine base. The Court further sentenced Mansion to serve four years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

Kim Murphy, age 61, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. The Court further sentenced Murphy to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

Yascia LaFrance, age 45, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison following her conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and 28 grams or more of cocaine base. The Court further sentenced LaFrance to serve four years of supervised release following her term of imprisonment.

Cornelius Carter, age 36, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to obtain, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine and one or more kilograms of heroin and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. The Court further sentenced Carter to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

Belinda Carter, age 41, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 19 months in federal prison following her conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The Court further sentenced Carter to serve two years of supervised release following her term of imprisonment.

This Operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Baton Rouge comprises agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Internal Revenue Service, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, Baton Rouge City Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. Other agencies also assisted in apprehending the defendants, including the U.S. Marshal's Service, and the Sheriffs' Offices in Ascension, Iberville, and West Baton Rouge Parishes. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert W. Piedrahita and Lyman E. Thornton III.