Thursday, August 23, 2012

Two Slidell Brothers Sentenced for Federal Drug Violations

NEW ORLEANS—Robby Ray, age 36, and Courtney Ray, age 34, both residents of Slidell, Louisiana, were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle today after the two pleaded guilty in May 2012 to federal drug charges, announced U.S Attorney Jim Letten.

Robby Ray was sentenced to 18 years (216 months) of incarceration pursuant to a plea agreement with the government that was accepted by the court. Robby Ray had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess and possess with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine base (“crack”), along with two distribution charges along with two counts of unlawful use of a communications facility (use of a phone to facilitate the drug conspiracy). Courtney Ray was sentenced to over three years (40 months) of incarceration after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”). According to court documents, the two men conspired with others in the Slidell area from before February 2010 until approximately September 2010 to possess and possess with intent to distribute varying amounts of cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine base (“crack”).

In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Lemelle imposed five years of supervisory release as to Robby Ray and three years of supervisory release as to Courtney Ray, following the term of imprisonment, during which time each defendant will be under federal supervision and risks an additional term of imprisonment should he violate any terms of his supervised release.

This investigation was initiated based upon a request for assistance by St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain. Deputies and detectives with the Narcotics Unit of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office assisted special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with this matter over the course of several months. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward J. Rivera and Sean Toomey.

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