Six individuals, including one Pearland resident, have been taken into custody following the return of an indictment alleging conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced Tuesday.
The two-count indictment, returned under seal April 3, was partially unsealed per the arrests of Lewis Charles Hawkins, 39, and Jarriette Eurk Hawkins, 35, both of Houston; Demetrice Quarles, 41, of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Marcus Dejuan Colbert, 35, of Pearland and Morris Alexander Wise, 32, of Maywood, Ill., Christopher Knox, 49, of Hopkinsville, Ky., is already in state custody in Louisiana on related charges and is expected to be transferred to federal custody to answer to these charges in the near future. The indictment remains sealed as to those charged but not as yet in custody.
All are charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine from Jan. 1, 2011, to the date of their arrest. Jarriette, Hawkins and Wise are also charged with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine on Sept. 15, 2011.
Both counts carry a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in federal prison in addition to a possible $10 million fine.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ted Imperato.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.
