Man pleads guilty to drug crimes
Published 6:30 am Saturday, June 4, 2016
A Bogalusa man pleaded guilty Wednesday to multiple drug and gun-related charges, according to information from the office of U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite of the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Christopher Taylor, 35, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride, possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”), and felon in possession of a firearm.
Polite said if Taylor is convicted of the charges, he would face considerable penalties. The cocaine hydrochloride possession charge carries a prison term anywhere from 10 years to life, and a fine of up to $10 million. The crack cocaine possession charge carries a prison term up to 20 years and a fine of $1 million, and the firearm charge carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle set sentencing for Sept. 7.
According to court documents, Taylor and accomplices had been working as cocaine traffickers in the Bogalusa area since the early 2000s. Drug Enforcement Agency special agents and Louisiana State Police officers arrested Taylor at his Donnel Street residence on Aug. 28, 2014.
During a search of Taylor’s residence, officers found a quantity of crack cocaine and a stolen Beretta .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol. At that time, Taylor had a prior felony conviction and was prohibited from owning a firearm under both federal and state law.