The Corrupting Power of Contraband Tobacco

From: Department of Justice/U.S. Attorney’s Office; Eastern District of Louisiana

Former Local Law Enforcement Officer Sentenced for Accepting a Bribe to Protect a Contraband Cigarette Trafficking Scheme

Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that GARRETT PARTMAN, age 32, of New Orleanswas sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to a one count Indictment charging him with interstate transportation in aid of racketeering enterprises.

U.S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt sentenced PARTMAN, a former Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Deputyto 3 years of probation.

According to court documents, PARTMAN, along with JUSTIN BROWN and JOSHUA CARTHON, all local law enforcement officers at the time of the Indictment, were utilized to protect and transport the shipment of contraband cigarettes across state lines.  Co-defendants, ANWAR ABDELMAJID-AHMAD,JADALLAH SAED, and ATALLA ATALLA, would then distribute and sell the contraband cigarettes in North Carolina and other states where the cigarette taxes are higher than Louisiana, resulting in a total tax loss to the federal and state governments of approximately $456,000.

Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the FBI New Orleans Division and Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorneys Tracey N. Knight and Irene Gonzalez are in charge of the prosecution.

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