Multiple Tangipahoa Parish Residents Indicted for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act

NEW ORLEANS, LA - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the October 9, 2024 unsealing of a thirteen-count indictment charging the following individuals:

• JOHN TICKLES JR., ("TICKLES JR."), age 28, of Hammond, Louisiana
• LONNIE YANCY III, ("YANCY III"), age 27, of Ponchatoula, Louisiana
• RASHUN HUTCHINSON, ("HUTCHINSON"), age 24, of Ponchatoula, Louisiana
• ROBERT HINES, ("HINES"), age 45, Ponchatoula, Louisiana
• BRYCE HIGHTOWER, ("HIGHTOWER"),age 22, of Ponchatoula, Louisiana
• RINGO MITCHELL JR., ("MITCHELL JR.'), age 36 of Natalbany, Louisiana
• RODNEY BERRY, ("BERRY"), age 41, of Ponchatoula, Louisiana

All seven individuals were indicted in Count 1 for Conspiracy to Distribute, and Possess with Intent to Distribute, Controlled Substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846. If convicted of Count 1, they face a minimum of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and at least 5 years of supervised release following imprisonment.

TICKLES JR. and HINES were indicted in Count 3, TICKLES JR. and BERRY were indicted in Count 6, TICKLES JR. and MITCHELL JR. were indicted in Count 9, and TICKLES JR. and HIGHTOWER were indicted in Count 12, for illegal Use of a Communications Facility, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(b) and 18 U.S.C. § 2. If convicted of Counts 3, 6, 9, or 12, they face up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least 3 years supervised release following imprisonment.

TICKLES JR. was indicted in Counts 2 and 11 for Distribution of Fentanyl and, on Counts 8 and 5, for Distribution of Methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). If convicted of either of these four Counts, TICKLES JR. faces a minimum of 5 years and, up to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and at least 4 years of supervised release following imprisonment.

HINES and HIGHTOWER were indicted in Counts 4 and 13 for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). If convicted of Counts 4 and 13, they face a minimum of 5 years and, up to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and at least 4 years of supervised release following imprisonment.

MITCHELL JR and BERRY were indicted in Counts 7 and 10 for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). If convicted of Counts 7 and 10, they face a minimum of 5 years and up to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and at least 4 years of supervised release following imprisonment.

As to each count in which one of these individuals is charged, they also face payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

According to the indictment, from a time unknown but continuing until at least September 10, 2024, these seven individuals conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, throughout Tangipahoa Parish. The conspiracy was carried out through wire and electronic communications.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at http://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

United States Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Hammond Police Department, Jefferson Parish Sherriff's Office, and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Sarver of the Narcotics Unit.