NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – AARON NAKEENEN WOMACK, a/k/a AARONE NAKEENAN WOMACK, 23, of Ponchatoula, LA, and SHAWANDA MCKAY, 50, of Independence, LA, were charged March 6, 2020, in a five-count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury with violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act, and witness tampering, announced U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser.

According to court records, WOMACK conspired to traffic more than 500 grams of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Louisiana in February 2020, and possessed a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. If convicted, WOMACK faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of at least 15 years and up to life, a fine of up to $10,000,000.00, and at least 5 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

Furthermore, after WOMACK’s arrest, MCKAY threatened a witness in the investigation, in an attempt to influence, delay, or prevent the testimony of that witness. If convicted, MCKAY faces a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years, a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

U.S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the defendants’ guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations Border Enforcement Security Task Force, which is an initiative of the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, with assistance from Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Louisiana State Police, Hammond Police Department, Ponchatoula Police Department, St. Helena Parish Sheriff’s Office, Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Paige O’Hale is in charge of the prosecution.