Avian Brule, Drug Trafficking, Louisiana 2014

New Orleans, LA - In a shocking turn of events, Avian Brule, a 21-year-old gang member from New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison for his involvement in a massive heroin and cocaine base trafficking operation in the East Hollygrove neighborhood.

According to court documents, Brule, also known as 'Ave,' pleaded guilty to federal drug and firearm violations. He was one of seven defendants charged with conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine base in the East Hollygrove neighborhood.

In addition to the conspiracy charges, all seven defendants were charged with conspiring to possess firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking crimes, and several of them were charged with committing substantive acts of violence.

To date, all of the gang members in this case, except for Charles Johnson, a/k/a 'Chuck,' 25, have pled guilty to various charges. Johnson is scheduled for trial on December 8, 2014.

The case against Brule and his co-defendants was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's MAG Unit. U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite praised the work of the FBI, stating, 'Even as a first-time offender, Avian Brule deserved the lengthy jail sentence imposed here. He and his East Hollygrove gang members terrorized their own neighborhood through narcotics trafficking and violence.'

Brule's sentence was handed down by Judge Ivan L.M. Lemelle, who ordered him to serve 3 years of supervised release once he is released from prison.

The case against Brule and his co-defendants is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of gang violence and drug trafficking on our communities. As U.S. Attorney Polite noted, 'We must use all available tools – prevention, intervention, and enforcement – to break this cycle of criminality.'

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/east-hollygrove-neighborhood-gang-member-avian-brule-sentenced-federal-drug-and