Demitoris “Big Tachi” Alexander, 52, of Gonzales, and Colin Knox, 39, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, were convicted on all counts by a federal jury following a six-day trial in what prosecutors are calling the final blow to a violent, large-scale drug trafficking empire. The verdict, handed down by U.S. District Judge Shelly D. Dick, caps a years-long investigation into a network responsible for flooding Ascension Parish and Baton Rouge with hundreds of kilograms of cocaine.
According to evidence presented, Alexander orchestrated a sprawling cocaine distribution ring that sourced multi-kilogram shipments from Houston, Texas, using female couriers with vehicles equipped with hidden compartments. One courier, Andrea Rumore, was caught transporting 18 kilograms of cocaine in Port Allen. The trial revealed Alexander distributed over 350 kilograms of cocaine between spring and summer of 2013 alone, funneling it through associates like Kelly Williams.
Knox’s role was far darker. He served as the organization’s enforcer, wielding violence and threats to protect its interests. Prosecutors detailed two separate 2013 incidents where Knox hunted individuals involved in disputes with Williams, escalating tensions with intimidation and the promise of physical harm. His presence ensured compliance through fear, cementing the group’s control.
The convictions mark the final chapter in Operation Third World, a sweeping federal probe that dismantled a violent network operating across Louisiana’s capital region. Alexander and Knox are the 37th and 38th defendants to be convicted in the case, sealing the fate of one of the Middle District’s most dangerous drug enterprises.
Both men now face a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison and up to life without parole. U.S. Attorney Brandon J. Fremin called the verdicts a “devastating blow” to the organization, praising the joint efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement. “Every community deserves freedom from the tyranny of violent drug traffickers,” Fremin stated, underscoring the unity behind the takedown.
The DEA, IRS-Criminal Investigations, and other agencies under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) led the operation. Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Brad L. Byerley emphasized that traffickers in the Middle District of Louisiana “will be held accountable.” The case exemplifies the federal government’s long-term strategy to dismantle major drug rings through coordinated, multi-agency force.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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