Yascia N. LaFrance, Drug Trafficking, Louisiana 2023

Yascia N. LaFrance, 42, Sentenced to 90 Months in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

Baton Rouge, Louisiana - Yascia N. LaFrance, 42, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison for her role in a large-scale drug trafficking organization, announced United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr.

LaFrance was sentenced by Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick following her convictions of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base. LaFrance must also serve four years of supervised release following her term of imprisonment.

According to admissions made as part of her guilty plea, LaFrance was the partner of Travis James. LaFrance joined James and others to negotiate for and purchase kilogram quantities of cocaine and heroin in Houston. Their source of supply in Houston, in turn, received the narcotics from Mexico. James and his associates then brought the narcotics to Baton Rouge for sale and distribution.

LaFrance lived with James at one of those locations, where they concealed large amounts of drug trafficking proceeds. On June 12, 2017, LaFrance delivered $200,000 of those proceeds to other members of the organization who were traveling to Houston to purchase kilogram amounts of cocaine and heroin.

On June 13, 2017, while executing search warrants at the home LaFrance shared with Travis James, investigators seized approximately $280,310 in drug proceeds concealed in the attic and a money counter. An additional $179,000 in cash was seized in another warrant search from Travis James’ safe deposit box at a local bank.

To date, 11 members of this large-scale conspiracy have been prosecuted and convicted.

The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration with invaluable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Internal Revenue Service, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Baton Rouge City Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police.

LaFrance's convictions stem from her role in a conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Piedrahita and Lyman E. Thornton III.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdla/pr/member-large-drug-trafficking-organization-sentenced-90-months-federal-prison-drug