Two Eastside Hollygrove Residents Plead Guilty to Gun and Drug Violations

NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that JONATHAN LAWRENCE, a/k/a “Chop,” a/k/a “Mego,” age 32, and VONZO MAGEE, a/k/a “Zo, a/k/a “Dark Low,” age 31, both of New Orleans, pleaded guilty yesterday to violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act and Federal Gun Control Act.

Specifically, LAWRENCE pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl; one count of conspiring to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking; and one count of discharging a firearm in a school zone.  On his drug conspiracy count, LAWRENCE is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a maximum sentence of life, a possible fine of up to $20,000,000, and at least ten years of supervised release upon his release from prison.  On the firearm conspiracy count, LAWRENCE is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a possible fine of up to $250,000, and not more than three years of supervised release.  On the discharging a firearm in a school zone count, LAWRENCE is facing a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment, a possible fine of up to $100,000, and not more than one year of supervised release.

MAGEE pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  On the drug conspiracy count, MAGEE is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment, a maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a possible fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least four years of supervised release upon his release from prison.  On the felon in possession count, MAGEE is facing a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a possible fine of up to $250,000, and not more than three years of supervised release.

U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance will sentence LAWRENCE and MAGEE on August 7, 2019.

U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the FBI New Orleans Gang Task Force (NOGFT), which led this investigation and was assisted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Orleans Police Department, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon S. Long, David Haller, and Edward Rivera are in charge of the prosecution.