Louisiana Man Convicted of Trafficking Cocaine, Crack, and Heroin Now Faces Possibility of Life in Prison

Louisiana – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that Joseph Woods, age 31, of Metairie, Louisiana, pleaded guilty as charged to a three-count indictment. Count 1 charged the defendant with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); Count 2 charged him with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and Count 3 charged him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).

Woods was previously convicted of drug trafficking, as well as other felony firearm and drug offenses in Jefferson Parish, according to court documents. Because of these convictions, he is not permitted to possess a firearm. He is now convicted of possessing multiple firearms as well as possessing cocaine, cocaine base (“crack”), and heroin with the intent to distribute. On October 4, 2020, law enforcement officers stopped a vehicle in Westwego, Louisiana, in which Woods was a passenger. Officers noticed two camouflage bags inside the vehicle before the driver drove away at high speed.The officers watched as the bags were thrown to the side of the road. The bags were later found, and additional evidence consistent with drug trafficking was discovered in the vehicle’s center console.

Woods faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and a minimum of three years of supervised release for Count 1 of the indictment. For Count 2, he faces a minimum sentence of five years up to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and up to five years of supervised release. For Count 3, he faces up to ten years in prison, a $250,000.00 fine, and three years of supervised release. Woods is subject to a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 per count.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, which is at the heart of the Department of Justice’s efforts to reduce violent crime. PSN is an evidence-based program that has been shown to reduce violent crime. PSN brings together a diverse range of stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime issues in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and collaborates with community-based prevention and reentry programs to achieve long-term crime reductions.

The Westwego Police Department and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. The prosecution is led by Assistant United States Attorney Charles D. Strauss.