FEDERAL CHARGES FILED IN HEROIN DISTRIBUTION CONSPIRACY
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -DIEGO A. PEREZ, age (18), a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, and DAVID C. BATTENBERG, a/k/a “Bird” age (27), a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, were both charged in a Bill of Information with conspiring with each other, and other known individuals to distribute quantities of heroin and cocaine hydrochloride. BATTENBERG was also charged with distribution of a quantity of heroin to a person under twenty-one years of age, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
The charges followed an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation that was initiated following the overdose death of a 16 year old female in January, 2008. According to court documents, agents obtained hundreds of text messages from the cellular telephone of PEREZ which detailed PEREZ’s frequent acquisition of heroin, cocaine and other controlled substances from BATTENBERG for purposes of further distribution. The Bill of Information alleges that BATTENBERG and PEREZ’s relationship dated back at least to November, 2007 and continued through the arrest of PEREZ on February 15, 2008.
If convicted, PEREZ AND BATTENBERG each face a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a fine of $1,000,000 and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment as to the drug conspiracy charge. BATTENBERG also faces a minimum term of imprisonment of one year and a maximum of forty (40) years imprisonment, a fine of $1,000,000 and six (6) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment as to the distribution of heroin to a person under twenty-one years of age.
U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that the Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U. S. Attorneys William J. Quinlan, Jr. and Maurice Landrieu.