February 4, 2010
Contact: Will Taylor
Number: 312-886-2597
Evansville, Indiana Drug Trafficking Investigation Leads Results in Twenty-Two Charged Federally
FEB 4  --
February 4, 2010 - (Evansville) Arrest and search warrants were executed today in Evansville, Indiana, Henderson, Kentucky, and Miami, Florida. The law enforcement action was the culmination of a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Evansville-Vanderburgh County Joint Drug Task Force led investigation. Twenty-two individuals have been charged in U.S. District Court in Evansville with conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Approximately 150 law enforcement officers participated in the execution of the search warrants and arrests. Approximately  kilogram of powder cocaine, a quantity of "crack" cocaine, approximately $21,000 in United States Currency, and 16 firearms were seized.
Several indictments obtained as a result of the investigation led to the arrests. The first indictment charged the following 12 individuals with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute both "crack" and powder cocaine:
JEAN STERLING , 36, of Miami, Florida and Evansville
SLEDGE SEIDE , 33, of Evansville
FRANCOEUR PIERRE , 30, of Evansville
JULVIO GABRIEL , 28, of Evansville
JULIUS WILBOURN , 36, of Evansville
EDGAR GIBSON , 28, of Evansville
MARVIN WHITNEY , 22, of Evansville
BRUCE THOMAS , 48, of Evansville
OLIVIA ALFANO , 22, of Evansville
JOHNNY WILBOURN , 46, of Evansville
LERNARD DIXON , 25, of Evansville
JESSICA JEAN , 22, of Evansville
Sterling, Seide and Pierre are alleged to be members of the Miami based "Zoe Pound" criminal street gang. As part of the indictment, it is alleged that Haitian immigrants within the United States founded "Zoe Pound" in the Miami area, which over the past two decades has grown and branched out from its Miami roots. It is alleged that the defendants relied upon their ties to "Zoe Pound", which is well known for its involvement in drug trafficking, robbery and related violent crime, to facilitate and advance the defendant's Evansville area drug trafficking activities.
Additionally, defendants Wilbourn, Thomas and Pierre were charged with separate instances of cocaine distribution in Evansville from July through September, 2009. Defendants Seide, Pierre, Gabriel, Whitney, Gibson, Johnny Wilbourn, Dixon, Alfano and Thomas are also charged with separate instances of using their cellular telephones to facilitate the drug trafficking offenses.
The second indictment charged the following nine individuals, all of Evansville: