Former St. Bernard Deputy Sheriff and Former Saints Player Indicted For Drug Distribution and Obstruction Charges

LOUISIANA–(ENEWSPF)–December 12, 2014. U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite, announced that BRANDON LICCIARDI, age 29 of Meraux, Louisiana, and DARREN SHARPER, age 39, formerly of New Orleans, were charged today in a six-count Indictment. LICCIARDI and SHARPER were charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Alprazolam, Diazepam and Zolpidem with intent to commit rape and two counts of distributing these substances with intent to commit rape. LICCIARDI was also charged with two counts of Witness Tampering and one count of Impeding an Investigation. The maximum punishments for these offenses are as follows:

COUNT	CHARGE	DEFENDANT	MAXIMUM PENALTIES
1	18 U.S.C. 1512(b)(1); Tampering with a Witness	Brandon Licciardi	20 Years, $250,000 Fine, 3 Years Supervised Release.
2	18 U.S.C. 1512(b)(1); Tampering with a Witness	Brandon Licciardi	20 Years, $250,000 Fine, 3 Years Supervised Release.
3	18 U.S.C. 1512(c)(2); Impeding an Investigation	Brandon Licciardi	20 Years, $250,000 Fine, 3 Years Supervised Release.
4	21 U.S.C. 846; Conspiracy to Distribute a Schedule IV Controlled Substance;	Brandon Licciardi Darren Sharper	20 Years, $250,000 Fine, 3 Years Supervised Release.
5	21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1),(b)(1)(D) & (E)(7)(A); Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Schedule IV	Brandon Licciardi Darren Sharper	20 Years, $250,000 Fine, 3 Years Supervised Release.
6	21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1),(b)(1)(D) & (E)(7)(A); Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Schedule IV	Brandon Licciardi Darren Sharper	20 Years, $250,000 Fine, 3 Years Supervised Release.

LICCIARDI is a former Deputy Sheriff with the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office. He resigned from that position prior to his arrest today. SHARPER is a former member of the New Orleans Saints and is presently in custody in Los Angeles for State of California charges.

“Today’s indictment reflects our office priorities of fighting violence and public corruption,” state U.S. Attorney Polite. “As alleged, Sharper and Licciardi conspired to distributed narcotics to several women with the intent to commit rape. Licciardi further compromised his position as a law enforcement officer by encouraging a witness to lie about Licciardi’s involvement in this conspiracy. As a result of today’s federal and state charges, both Licciardi and Sharper will now be brought to justice in this district.”

U. S. Attorney Polite reiterated that, at this time, the charges in the Indictment are merely charges, and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter and thanked the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office for their assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark A. Miller and Michael E. McMahon are in charge of the prosecution.