BIRMINGHAM, AL – The bass drops on Woodie Louis Ochle, 40, of Atlanta, after he pleaded guilty in federal court to a sprawling conspiracy to flood Alabama and Georgia with MDMA, the notorious party drug also known as “Ecstasy” or “Molly.” Ochle, co-owner of Freakstep Promotions, wasn’t just booking gigs – he was allegedly supplying the fuel for all-night raves with thousands of illicit pills.
Federal prosecutors announced the guilty plea, a culmination of an investigation led by Acting U.S. Attorney Robert O. Posey, Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge Sherry Douglas, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector in Charge Adrian Gonzales, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary of Law Enforcement Hal Taylor, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, and Helena Police Chief Pete Folmar. The multi-agency effort finally cornered Ochle, who admitted to leading an organization that peddled MDMA alongside the music.
According to court documents, Ochle’s scheme spanned from February 2015 to April 2016, operating out of Jefferson and Shelby counties in Alabama. Freakstep Promotions hosted concerts and dance events, providing the perfect cover for distributing the illegal substance directly to attendees. On April 13, 2016, authorities seized evidence linking Ochle to possessing MDMA with intent to distribute. A sentencing date has not been set, leaving Ochle facing significant time behind bars.
Ochle isn’t the only one facing the music. Four co-conspirators have already entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing. Kevin Reid Pedersen, 28, Shawn Edward Perkins, 22, and Jennifer Leigh Petitjean, 31, all of Birmingham, along with Kenton Lee Howard, 38, of Chelsea, were all implicated in the MDMA distribution network. Investigators believe they played key roles in assisting Ochle’s operation.
The case was a coordinated effort between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-HSI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, and the Helena Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Felton skillfully prosecuted the case, meticulously building evidence against Ochle and his crew. This bust sends a clear message: profiting from poison won’t be tolerated.
Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it develops, bringing you the latest updates on sentencing and further investigations into the network of individuals involved in this dangerous drug operation. The streets of Alabama and Georgia are a little less saturated with MDMA today, thanks to the tireless work of these law enforcement agencies. But the fight against the flow of illegal drugs is far from over.
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Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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