A joint effort by United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown, FBI Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil, and Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mark Garber led to the conviction and sentencing of three men involved in a kidnapping and ransom plot in the Western District of Louisiana.
The defendants received the following sentences from United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays:
- Joseph Lawrence Harrison, 27, of St. Martinville: 18 years in prison.
- Cody Lajohn Williams, 31, of Breaux Bridge: 25 years in prison.
- Drapper Lavar Anthony, Jr., 27, of Youngsville: 20 years in prison.
In February 2023, the group lured a victim from Los Angeles to Lafayette under the pretense of a drug deal. Upon arrival, the victim was kidnapped at gunpoint, assaulted, and held captive in an Airbnb.
The kidnappers demanded a ransom of $300,000, marijuana, and jewelry.
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of investigators, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives intercepted Harrison and Williams and rescued the victim.
“The apprehension of these three defendants could not have happened without the cooperation of each of these state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as those in California, and is a testament to what is possible when we all work together,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “The kind of bad acts that these three men committed are without reproach and will not be tolerated in the Western District of Louisiana. I am proud of the men and women within our office that worked to make this prosecution successful and am grateful for the partnership we have built with our federal and local law enforcement partners. We will continue to work together to combat violent crime in the Western District of Louisiana.”
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“Every day, the FBI works with its law enforcement partners to combat drugs and violent crime in this country,” said Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil of FBI New Orleans. “Every citizen, including those caught up in the middle of illicit activity, deserves protection from the harm that can occur when one ventures into that illegal trade. The FBI thanks all of its partners in this case for making sure some of this business was disrupted.”
Harrison pleaded guilty in March 2024, admitting his involvement in demanding the ransom and providing a cell phone used to send proof-of-life images and videos of the victim.
Williams pleaded guilty in May 2024 to conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Further details about Anthony’s plea were not provided in the original text.
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