United States V. Kelley

On September 28, 1995, Victor G. Kelley, Welton L. Wright, Terry Elmore, James Earl Shaw, Larry Doublin, and Parnell Kelley, aka P.K., were arrested pursuant to a 13-count indictment alleging a drug conspiracy, forfeiture, and various drug distribution crimes that spanned from sometime in 1993 through May 1995. The distribution charges against Victor Kelley, the purported leader of the conspiracy, were dropped prior to trial. Victor Kelley's girlfriend-Angela Turner-was also named in the indictment, but her charge was limited to a structuring offense. Following a three-week jury trial, the defendants were found guilty on all counts of the indictment and convicted as charged. Victor Kelley, Welton Wright, Terry Elmore, James Shaw, and Parnell Kelley timely appeal such convictions and sentences. Factual Background and Procedural History The appellants, each in their twenties (except Wright), all resided in Monroe, Louisiana, and apparently grew up in the same neighborhood or have known each other for quite some time. All of the appellants-and all of the defendants below-are African-American. The government alleges that they orchestrated a rather large, almost impenetrable drug distribution ring in northeast Louisiana-its leader being Victor Kelley, its supervisor being Wright, and its "headquarters" being Wright's home as that is where appellants' often gathered to cook the powder cocaine into crack cocaine. The government asserts that the cocaine was imported by Victor Kelley from Houston, Las Vegas, and California.