Jeffrey Clines, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Louisiana 2018

New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Meth Trafficking

Jeffrey Clines, a 53-year-old resident of New Orleans, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to traffic 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Louisiana.

According to court documents, Clines was one of 11 defendants charged in a 23-count federal indictment. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison, a maximum life sentence, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least five years of supervised release.

Clines and his co-defendant, Jacob Higginbotham, a 24-year-old from Houma, allegedly conspired to sell large quantities of methamphetamine with other codefendants. The indictment also alleges individual acts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, as well as firearm offenses for some of the defendants.

Law enforcement developed evidence against the group using controlled purchases of methamphetamine, traffic stops and seizures, consensually recorded text messages and phone calls, search warrants, cooperator information, and self-incriminating statements.

U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan has set sentencing for Clines and Higginbotham on November 8, 2018, at 10:00 a.m.

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Louisiana State Police, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Highway Patrol, Montgomery County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, AMTRAK Police, and the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Long is in charge of the prosecution.

Clines and Higginbotham are two of 11 defendants charged in a 23-count federal indictment. The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to sell large quantities of methamphetamine. The defendants are from various locations, including New Orleans, Houma, and Texas.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/two-men-plead-guilty-methamphetamine-trafficking-conspiracy-0