"Murder Squad" Brothers Plead Guilty to Violations of RICO Conspiracy, the Federal Gun Control and Controlled Substances Acts, and Aiding and Abetting

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — DANTE CARSON, age 21, and, DWIGHT CARSON, age 22, both of Algiers, Louisiana pled guilty in federal court today before U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk to Violations of the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization Act, the Federal Gun Control and Controlled Substances Acts, and Aiding and Abetting, announced U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente.

DANTE CARSON, pled guilty to Count 1 – RICO Conspiracy; Count 5 – Conspiracy to Possess Firearms During and In Relation to Crimes of Violence and Drug Trafficking Offenses; and Count 10 – Aiding and Abetting in the Unlawful Acquisition of a Firearm. As part of the RICO Conspiracy, DANTE CARSON admitted that both he and other Murder Squad members participated in the murder Reginald Francois on April 1, 2010. DANTE CARSON pled guilty pursuant to an 11(c)(1)(C) plea agreement where he will be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 360 months. The Court may accept or reject the plea agreement.

DWIGHT CARSON, pled guilty to Count 1 – RICO Conspiracy; Count 2 – Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base; Count 5 – Conspiracy to Possess Firearms During and In Relation to Crimes of Violence and Drug Trafficking Offenses; and Count 11 – Aiding and Abetting in the Unlawful Acquisition of a Firearm. DWIGHT CARSON pled guilty pursuant to an 11(c)(1)(C) plea agreement where he will be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 240 months. The Court may accept or reject the plea agreement.

This case arose out of a joint investigation by ATF, FBI, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. This investigation targeted an area which exhibited a disproportionate amount of violent crimes and narcotics trafficking. During the course of the investigation, specific individuals were identified as the main perpetrators of many of the violent acts and much of the narcotics distribution. Federal and local law enforcement officers interviewed witnesses, confidential informants, as well as state defendants, relative to the targeted individuals. It was revealed that a group of individuals operated in various areas of Harvey Louisiana, specifically the neighborhoods known as Scottsdale and Haydel. This group controlled these areas for their narcotics distribution activities through violence and through threats of violence, to include murder, attempted murder, obstruction and assaults. They were referred to as the Harvey Hustlers and/or Murder Squad.

The "Murder Squad," or MS, was a faction of the Harvey Hustlers composed primarily of individuals residing in the Harvey, Louisiana area of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. While they primarily operated on the Westbank of Jefferson Parish, members conducted business in other parts of the Eastern District of Louisiana. The "Harvey Hustlers" also referred to as "HH" originated in the Harvey area in the mid–1980s. Members of the organization "hustled" meaning they distributed illegal narcotics. The original goal of the Harvey Hustlers was to make money from sales of illegal narcotics.

Sentencing for the named defendants is set for April 18, 2013 before United States District Judge Lance M. Africk.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Federal Bureau Investigation, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Duane A. Evans and Bill McSherry.