Leader of drug trafficking organization in EBR area convicted of drug and weapons offenses

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – The leader of a drug trafficking organization operating in East Baton Rouge Parish and surrounding areas has been sentenced to more than two decades in prison on drug and weapons charges.

US Attorney Ronald. C. Gathe Jr. announced that Corey Terrell Gardner, 33, of Baton Rouge, was sentenced to 260 months – approximately 21 years – in federal prison after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl , and was convicted of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Gardner was also sentenced to five years of supervised release following his prison sentence and must forfeit all proceeds from his drug trafficking offenses as well as firearms and ammunition seized by law enforcement.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Gardner operated a warehouse and was an organizer, director, manager or supervisor.

Officials said as part of his guilty plea, he admitted to operating the drug distribution organization in the Baton Rouge area from March to September 2019, where he and others distributed methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin.

Law enforcement reportedly seized over 27 ounces of methamphetamine, 2.7 ounces of heroin and 1.6 ounces of fentanyl when they searched his home and other locations associated with him. They also reportedly seized four firearms and 130 rounds of ammunition from Gardner, which he illegally possessed to protect himself, his drugs and his drug sales proceeds.

According to the Department of Justice, Gardner was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in January 2018. He was sentenced to over 12 months in prison. As a convicted felon, he was prohibited from owning firearms and ammunition.

This case was an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.

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