Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Federal Jury Convicts Baton Rouge Man of Conspiracy To Distribute and Possess With Intent To Distribute Heroin, Marijuana, and Methamphetamine
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr., announced the conviction of Xavier Johnson, age 38, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 22, 2019 and charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
After a three-day trial before Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick, beginning January 30, 2023, the jury unanimously convicted Johnson of conspiracy to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine. As the evidence at trial demonstrated, Johnson conspired with inmates at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, and others, to obtain heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine from sources of supply in California, and to possess and distribute the drugs to inmates in Angola and to other non-incarcerated individuals within Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and elsewhere. Evidence brought to light at trial by federal and state law enforcement officials, and information obtained through forensic data analysis, corroborated testimony from witnesses that Johnson was involved in supervising at least three couriers of controlled substances, personally distributing controlled substances, and attempting to smuggle controlled substances to inmates at Angola.
As a result of his convictions, Johnson now faces a maximum sentence in federal prison of 20 years imprisonment, as well as significant fines, forfeiture, and a minimum 3-year term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service, and with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Louisiana Department of Corrections, to include staff at Angola, the 20th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and the St. Francisville Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Paul L. Pugliese and April Leon Johnson.