Ongoing Jungle Life Mafia Street Gang Prosecution Results in Multiple Guilty Pleas and Sentencings for Nine Tangipahoa Parish Residents
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MICHAEL ALEXANDER, SR., a/k/a “Monsta,” a/k/a “Jamond,” age 40, ATRELL ANDERSON, a/k/a “Trey,” a/k/a “Trel,” a/k/a “Da Boi,” age 31, TERRELL HAYNES, a/k/a “Redman,” age 44, MICHAEL ALEXANDER, JR., a/k/a “Mike Mike,” age 22, BRANDON BAKER, age 37, LOUIS BELLS, JR., age 22, JERALD ALEXANDER, age 37, STAR ROBICHAUX, age 43, and JOSHUA PRINE, age 42, residents of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, have now all pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) agents began investigating the drug trafficking activities of the Jungle Life Mafia street gang in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana in 2019. The investigation spanned two years which led to the seizure of drugs, drug proceeds, and guns. In total, DEA agents seized $590,602 in U.S. currency and 10 illegal guns.
On March 9, 2023, ALEXANDER, SR. pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of heroin, and a quantity of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and being a felon in possession of firearms.
For the conspiracy charge, ALEXANDER, SR. faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least 5 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, he faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least 4 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, ALEXANDER, SR. faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, up to life imprisonment, to run consecutive with any other sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 5 years of supervised release. If convicted of being a felon in possession of firearms, ALEXANDER, SR. faces up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years supervised release. For each of the four (4) charges against him, ALEXANDER, SR. must also pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing for ALEXANDER, SR. is scheduled for June 13, 2023.
On October 6, 2022, ANDERSON pled guilty to conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 100 grams or more of heroin. He also pled guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On March 9, 2023, ANDERSON was sentenced to 188 months imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, and a $600 mandatory special assessment fee.
On September 19, 2022, HAYNES pled guilty to conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 1 kilogram or more of heroin. He also pled guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. For the conspiracy count, he faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least 5 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For distribution, HAYNES faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least 4 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For being a felon in possession of a firearm, HAYNES faces up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years supervised release. For each of the three (3) charges against him, HAYNES must also pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing for HAYNES is scheduled for April 18, 2023.
On October 19, 2022, ALEXANDER, JR. pled guilty to conspiring to distribute quantities of heroin and methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and use of a communication facility in furtherance of drug trafficking. On February 14, 2023, ALEXANDER, JR. was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, and a $500 mandatory special assessment fee.
On January 18, 2023, JERALD ALEXANDER pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm. For the marijuana offenses, he faces up to 5 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and at least 2 years of supervised release. For possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, ALEXANDER faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years up to life imprisonment, to run consecutive to any other sentence, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 5 years of supervised release. For being a felon in possession of a firearm, he faces a maximum of ten years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. For each of the four (4) charges against him, ALEXANDER must also pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing for ALEXANDER is scheduled for April 18, 2023.
On August 2, 2022, BELLS pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. On October 25, 2022, BELLS was sentenced to 71 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
On October 4, 2022, BAKER pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute quantities of heroin and methamphetamine. On February 28, 2023, he was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
On September 14, 2022, ROBICHAUX pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 1 kilogram or more of heroin. On October 18, 2022, PRINE pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 1 kilogram or more of heroin. Both ROBICHAUX and PRINE face a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least 5 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Sentencing for ROBICHAUX is scheduled for April 25, 2023 and sentencing for PRINE is scheduled for June 13, 2023.
This prosecution 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.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Hammond Police Department, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, St. Tammany Parish District Attorney’s Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Narcotics Unit.
