Seven Tangipahoa Parish residents indicted on federal drug charges | crime

NEW ORLEANS – On October 9, 2024, United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the unsealing of a thirteen-count indictment against the following individuals:

• JOHN TICKLES JR. (“TICKLES JR.”), age 28, from 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, from Natalbany, Louisiana
• RODNEY BERRY (“BERRY”), age 41, of Ponchatoula, Louisiana

All seven individuals were charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances in Count 1, in violation of 21 USC §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), 841 charged (b)(1)(B) and 846. If convicted of Count 1, they face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and a minimum of 5 years of post-prison supervised release .

TICKLES JR. and HINES were indicted on Count 3, TICKLES JR. and BERRY were charged in Count 6, TICKLES JR. and MITCHELL JR. were indicted on Count 9, and TICKLES JR. and HIGHTOWER were charged in Count 12 with illegal use of a communications facility in violation of 21 USC § 843(b) and 18 USC § 2. In case of conviction

For Counts 3, 6, 9, or 12, they face up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of post-incarceration supervised release.

TICKLES JR. was charged with counts 2 and 11 of distribution of fentanyl and counts 8 and 5 of distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 USC §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). represents. If convicted of any of these four charges, TICKLES JR. The convicted person faces a sentence of at least 5 and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and supervised release for at least 4 years after incarceration.

HINES and HIGHTOWER were charged in Counts 4 and 13 with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in violation of 21 USC §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). If convicted of Counts 4 and 13, they face a minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and a minimum of four years of post-prison supervised release.

MITCHELL JR and BERRY were charged in Counts 7 and 10 with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 USC §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). . If convicted of Counts 7 and 10, they face a minimum of five and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and a minimum of four years of post-prison supervised release.

For each count in which one of these individuals is charged, they must also pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.

According to the indictment, beginning at an unknown date but at least until September 10, 2024, these seven individuals conspired to distribute and possess with the 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-led, multi-agency approach. For more information about the OCDETF program, visit http://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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