Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to 160 Months in Federal Prison for Drug Charges

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced the sentencing of Timothy Franklin, age 40, a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles as the result of 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 East Baton Rouge Parish.

Franklin, a career offender, was sentenced to 160 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for four counts of distribution of heroin. The Court further sentenced Franklin to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on February 25, 2019, during controlled calls with a confidential source ("CS"), the CS requested to meet for a drug transaction that the two had previously discussed. The CS was fitted with an audio and video recording device and travelled to meet Franklin. When the CS arrived at the location, he entered the front passenger side of Franklin's vehicle, provided $10,000 to Franklin, and received a plastic bag containing 112.2 grams of heroin. The CS later identified Franklin to be the lone occupant of the vehicle. Agents conducted surveillance and confirmed Franklin's identity.

On April 24, 2019, the CS participated in four controlled calls with Franklin to arrange the purchase of two ounces of heroin for $4,800. The CS requested "two" and for Franklin to "make it good." Franklin agreed he'd make it strong and requested "24," which referred to $2,400 per ounce. They met in Baton Rouge where the CS entered the front passenger seat of Franklin's vehicle and tendered $4,800 to him in exchange for a plastic bag containing 53.96 grams of heroin.

On May 30, 2019, the CS participated in three controlled calls with Franklin to arrange the purchase of two ounces of heroin for $5,000. Franklin arrived at the gas station, and the CS entered the front passenger seat of the vehicle and tendered $5,000 to him in exchange for a plastic bag containing 56 grams of heroin.

After the three initial controlled buys, agents obtained court authorization to intercept calls and text messages occurring to and from Franklin's cell phone. On July 30, 2019, while wiretapping the telephone, the CS placed a controlled call to Franklin asking for "3" for his customers; Franklin said he needed about two hours. Several hours later, the CS called Franklin, and they discussed the CS paying "34" for the drugs.

Franklin arrived at the gas station, and the CS entered the front passenger seat of the vehicle and tendered $5,000 to him in exchange for a plastic bag containing 51.18 grams of heroin. Agents conducted aerial surveillance, which showed Franklin meet with the CS.

This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office, Baton Rouge Police Department, Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office, West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, and Denham Springs Police Department. This matter was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Jarreau, who also serves as Deputy Chief of the Organized and Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.