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Allen Gang Members Convicted of Crack Cocaine Trafficking
A federal jury in Louisiana has convicted members of the Allen Gang of crack cocaine trafficking and related charges. GIE PRESTON, 39, BURNELL ALLEN, 35, and SONNY ALLEN, 31, all residents of New Orleans, were found guilty of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base ‘crack.’
The jury also found SONNY ALLEN guilty of distributing a quantity of cocaine base ‘crack’ on four occasions. GIE PRESTON was found guilty of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, being a convicted felon in possession of firearms, and conspiring to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
BURNELL ALLEN and SONNY ALLEN were found not guilty of conspiring to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and GIE PRESTON was found not guilty of another gun crime.
Evidence presented at trial showed that the defendants were related and grew up in and around the former Melpomene Housing Development, engaging in high-volume street-level drug dealing over several years. The majority of this activity took place near an older relative’s home located at 1218 Simon Bolivar Avenue.
The defendants routinely carried firearms to protect themselves while distributing illegal narcotics, according to the evidence. U.S. District Judge Stanwood R. Duval, Jr. has scheduled sentencing for April 8, 2015.
GIE PRESTON faces 15 years to life, BURNELL ALLEN faces a mandatory life sentence, and SONNY ALLEN faces 20 years to life. U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Toomey and Andre Lagarde prosecuted the matter. The case was investigated by the ATF as part of the metro area’s Multi-Agency Gang Unit (MAG), which consists of a partnership with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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