Member of Large Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 168 Months in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

Louisiana Man Who Was Member of Large Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 14 Years in Connection with Trafficking Cocaine and Crack

Louisiana – On September 19, 2022, United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced the sentencing of Kim K. Murphy, age 57, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as part of Operation Hidden Fee, an extensive federal, state, and local investigation by the Middle District Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) aimed at a drug trafficking network based and operating in Baton Rouge.

Murphy was sentenced to 168 months (14 years) in federal prison by Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the purpose to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine. Murphy must also serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison sentence.

Murphy said in his guilty plea that he plotted with his co-defendant Travis James and others to obtain, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine. According to court orders, federal law enforcement officials with the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) intercepted communications between James and his cellular phones. Murphy facilitated multi-ounce cocaine and crack cocaine transactions for customers during those court-authorized wiretaps. Murphy and James would then arrange meetings in Port Allen and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where James would give those sums to either waiting customers or to Murphy, who would subsequently provide his buyers.

On or around January 11, 2018, James and Murphy were driving from Texas to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in separate automobiles when they were pulled up for traffic offenses. Murphy provided untrustworthy responses to law enforcement officers during his traffic stop. Law authorities sought and received Murphy’s written agreement to search the vehicle, and a green duffel bag containing numerous vacuum sealed bags containing probable bricked cocaine was discovered in the trunk. Murphy asserted ownership of the bag.

So far, nine individuals of this massive conspiracy have been charged and convicted.

The Drug Enforcement Administration spearheaded the investigation, which was assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Internal Revenue Service, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Baton Rouge City Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. The US Marshals Service and the Sheriffs’ Offices in Ascension, Iberville, and West Baton Rouge Parishes also aided in apprehending the defendants. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Piedrahita and Lyman E. Thornton III prosecuted these cases.

This prosecution is part of an investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that pose a threat to the United States.