Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Activities Involving Crack

New Orleans, Louisiana – Oliver Pierre, age 40, a resident of Slidell, Louisiana, pled guilty on January 24, 2023, to one count of possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base (“crack”), in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration learned of James Bickham's drug trafficking activities in October 2015, when he used Pierre as a drug courier to deliver drugs from Houston to Slidell, Louisiana. Agents intercepted phone calls between Bickham and a customer discussing the delivery of 7.5 ounces of crack from Bickham to the customer in Slidell, Louisiana, as part of the investigation.

Agents established surveillance outside the customer's Slidell residence on October 8, 2015, after becoming aware of the pending drug transaction. Agents also intercepted phone calls between Bickham, the customer, and Pierre regarding the crack delivery. At around 3:40 p.m., the customer exited an apartment and drove to a Quick E-Z in Slidell, Louisiana, where he parked next to Pierre's SUV. Pierre, who was delivering Bickham's drugs, threw the drugs into the customer's vehicle. The customer and Pierre left the area in separate vehicles after Pierre threw the drugs into the customer's vehicle. Agents attempted to apprehend the customer, but he drove away and threw the drugs out the window. Agents eventually apprehended and arrested the customer, and the two bags of drugs were recovered. Agents recovered 158 grams of crack from Pierre's delivery to the customer.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office investigated this case. André Jones, an Assistant United States Attorney, handled the prosecution.