In what federal prosecutors are describing as a brazen scheme of financial deception and drug trafficking, a Slidell couple has found themselves wrapped up in a web of criminal charges. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that Jamar Howard, 38, and Charenyia Carmouche, 31, are facing a twelve-count indictment for a series of serious offenses. According to a report by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, the duo's alleged crimes include conspiracy to commit offenses, wire fraud, making false statements in loan applications, money laundering, and violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act.
As stated in the indictment, between 2023 and 2024, Howard and Carmouche submitted a series of loan applications that were bolstered by fabricated tax documents. In addition to altered bank statements, they managed to secure funds that they later used for personal enjoyment and enrichment, not what the loans had ostensibly been for. One particular transaction, involving over $10,000 in criminally derived property, was specifically attributed to Carmouche, pointing to a troubling pattern of laundering illicit funds.
The indictment also details a drug trafficking plot with Howard at its center, focusing on the intent to distribute carfentanil, a potent fentanyl analogue. While the exact beginning of this criminal operation remains unclear, records indicate it was active by March 2024, at the very least. Howard's involvement with such a dangerous substance adds a grave dimension to the already serious allegations against him.
For their alleged crimes, Howard and Carmouche face a staggering potential for imprisonment and fines. "If convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Offenses, HOWARD and CARMOUCHE face a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and at least three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment," according to a Justice Department statement. The most severe of these offenses, conspiracy to distribute carfentanil, could land Howard in prison for life, along with a fine up to $10 million.
It's crucial to remember that these charges levied against Howard and Carmouche are only accusations at this point; an indictment is merely a statement of charges. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson stressed that "the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt," as mentioned on the U.S. Attorney's Office website. The case, born from a Drug Enforcement Administration investigation, sees Assistant United States Attorney Briana Williams of the Narcotics Unit at the helm of the prosecution.
