Local Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — DANQUELL MILLER, a/k/a “Queezy,” age 28, also a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced today in federal court by U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt to serve twenty (25) years (300 months) in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to court documents, in June, 2010, a federal jury found that all three defendants were members of a group called 3-N-G and participating in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine and a quantity of marijuana, a conspiracy to obstruct justice, and other drug and firearms offenses.

The jury found that DALTON BENNETT was guilty of possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. During the trial, NOPD officers testified that they conducted a traffic stop on a Nissan Titan pickup truck which was driven by DALTON BENNETT with DANQUELL MILLER as the passenger. A drug dog alerted on a hidden compartment behind the radio on the front dashboard. The police pulled back the dashboard and located 28 grams of crack and a .40 caliber firearm. The police also found DALTON BENNET to be in possession of $2,419.00 in cash in his pocket.

When DALTON BENNETT was placed in Orleans Parish Prison, he used the telephone to call his brother, LANCE BENNETT. While on the phone, DALTON BENNETT asked LANCE BENNETT to go to a local attorney’s office and sign a false affidavit stating that the drugs and gun belonged to him. DALTON BENNETT told LANCE that he needed to go “take the charge” before federal authorities charged him with federal violations. He also told DANQUELL MILLER, who was not initially arrested, to tell LANCE BENNETT what was in the secret compartment so that his affidavit would be factually correct. LANCE BENNETT went to the attorney’s office and signed an affidavit attesting to his ownership of the gun and drugs. This affidavit was introduced into evidence during the trial.

The Government also introduced numerous telephone recordings from LANCE BENNETT, who was arrested on state firearms charges, which proved that he had his girlfriend selling crack cocaine out on the street around Third and Galvez.

During the sentencing hearing today, the Government presented evidence that MILLER had a prior conviction from Texas, where he was arrested on a traffic stop and police found that he was transporting drugs in a secret compartment in his car.

Co-defendants DALTON BENNETT and LANCE BENNETT were each recently sentenced to life imprisonment.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Officers of the New Orleans Police Department. This matter was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr.