Two men plead guilty to drug charges

By Erik Sanzenbach
Published on Monday, February 25, 2008 9:26 AM CST

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St. Tammany News

U. S. Attorney for Eastern Louisiana, Jim Letten announced Friday that two Slidell men have pleaded guilty to conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms of cocaine.

Both men, Isaac J. Bolton, 25, and Mark D. Fridge, 28, were part of a large conspiracy involving 14 people who were bringing in large quatities of cocaine and marijuana to Slidell, from Houston, Texas.

Investigation by the FBI and the St. Tammany Sheriff's Office started in 2006 when the FBI got court permission to tap the cellular telephones of Bruce Carter Jr., and Gabriel J. Bolden, also from Slidell, who were also indicted in the same case as Bolton and Fridge.

Investigators heard Bolden and Carter plan several narcotic deals from December 2006 to February 2007.

The wiretaps also turned up evidence that Bolden has ordered counter-surveillance on the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's narcotics unit, which is located in the John Slidell Park on Robert Boulevard in Slidell.

The FBI and the Sheriff's Office filed arrest warrants for Carter, Bolden and two other suspects on Feb. 15, 2007. Authorities later issued two more arrest warrants for two other men who were traveling to Houston on Feb. 18, 2007.

When Bolden and the others returned to his home in Slidell at 3 p.m. Feb. 19, they were all arrested. FBI agents and deputies found three kilograms of cocaine and 100 pounds of marijuana in the back of Bolden's pickup truck.

Bolton admitted to possession with intent to distribute 64 grams of cocaine, 28 grams of crack cocaine and one pound of marijuana during his part in the conspiracy between July 25, 2006 and Feb. 19, 2007.

Fridge admitted to possession with intent to distribute 85 grams of cocaine and 100 pounds of marijuana during the same time period.

In total, 14 people were indicted on July 27, 2007, plus six more people were indicted on March 16, 2007 for their part in the same distribution conspiracy.

According to Letten, Bolden, Carter, Dorian T. Hart, Charles E. Prewitt and Edwin J. Salinas entered guilty pleas to the conspiracy. Another suspect, Shane P. Bossier, pleaded not guilty and will go to trail on March 24 in District Judge Sarah Vance's courtroom. Four other defendants will go on trial on March 17 in front District Judge A. J. McNamara.

Bolton and Fridge each face a maximum sentence of life in prison, with a mandatory sentence of 10 years, a fine of $4 million and five years of supervised release.

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Comments

4 comment(s)

Funny wrote on Mar 31, 2009 6:06 AM:

" carlos is not married to casandra LOL he still his married to someone else! "

mike king wrote on Jul 2, 2008 4:16 PM:

" I was interviewed on set, most information is wrong. The journalist should be in trouble for false information stated.
My role as a FT. Extra was not outside waiting for a girl to get ice cream! I was inside with the actors in the diner! Jess was outside doing regular background. And actors dont have to sit around for 15hours, The crew does everyday, especially P.A's. Extras work 8-12hours. Most of the background/extra work that I do is less than $100/day. LA rates are $65/8hrs, $79/10hrs, $112/12hrs background pay. "

ec wrote on May 7, 2008 5:47 PM:

" Myson was stopped because of loud music. He was not drunk but his companion was. A St. Tammany Parish officer shopped him but was ticketed by Troop L. My husband saw him at Troop L before he was transported to St. Tammany. He said he WAS NOT drunk & didn't have bloodshot eyes, slur his words or was unsteady on his feet. Troop L Officer said his speech was slurred, had bloodshot eyes and was unsteady on his feet. Troop L officer lied; the judge accepted it as truth. Where is the justice? "

Erika wrote on Apr 23, 2008 4:10 PM:

" I live in Brownswitch Rd and I tried really hard to ride my bike here and it was so dangerous.I do not know where to go .I love riding my bicycle , I wish we could have a safe place in the town.
"

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