Six Defendants Guilty of Drug, Firearms, and Robbery Crimes Related to Robbery of Undercover ATF Agent

Press Release

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - Over the past few months, MICHAEL LOTT, DIANTA TROPEZ, VERNELL WOODARD, QUINDELE ADDISON, SHEENA RUDOLPH, and CORIS ADDISON, all of New Orleans, pled guilty before United States District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle to charges stemming from a controlled purchase of methamphetamine as well as an attempted controlled purchase of methamphetamine, during which a Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) undercover agent, and another individual, were armed robbed, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court records, on August 29, 2023, VERNELL WOODARD, QUINDELE ADDISON, SHEENA RUDOLPH, and CORIS ADDISON, conspired to distribute, methamphetamine to an undercover ATF agent and another individual, at a Westbank, New Orleans apartment. The plan came to fruition when VERNELL WOODARD, QUINDELE ADDISON, and SHEENA RUDOLPH sold the undercover ATF agent approximately seven grams of pure methamphetamine.

After this methamphetamine distribution deal was completed, VERNELL WOODARD arranged for the undercover ATF agent and the other individual to return to the apartment the following day to purchase more drugs. When the undercover ATF agent and the other individual arrived at the apartment complex the next day, WOODARD told them to return to the same apartment. As they were coming upstairs, MICHAEL LOTT, armed with an AR-15 style weapon,hid in a closet inside the apartment. Once the undercover ATF agent and the other individual were inside the apartment, DIANTA TROPEZ entered, pointed a Glock pistol at the undercover ATF agent and the other individual, and demanded they get down and hand over their possessions. Simultaneously, MICHAEL LOTT emerged from the closet, pointed the AR-15 style weapon at them, and also demanded they turn over their possessions.

Other agents monitoring the deal, realized something was wrong and began responding. MICHAEL LOTT and DIANTA TROPEZ heard the law enforcement response, which stopped the robbery, and everyone in the apartment tried to flee. The undercover ATF agent and the other individual went onto the third-floor apartment balcony and began climbing down to escape. During their climb, the agent fell and sustained severe injuries.

As a result of this criminal conduct, MICHAEL LOTT, DIANTA TROPEZ, VERNELL WOODARD, QUINDELE ADDISON, SHEENA RUDOLPH, and CORIS ADDISON were indicted on eleven-counts related to the drug trafficking and armed robbery.

On August 14, 2024, SHEENA RUDOLPH pleaded guilty to the methamphetamine conspiracy and the distribution of methamphetamine on August 29, 2023. On August 29, 2024, CORIS ADDISON pleaded guilty to the methamphetamine conspiracy. On September 13, 2024, DIANTA TROPEZ pleaded guilty to conspiring to rob a person of money belonging to the United States, armed robbery of a person of money belonging to the United States, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, assaulting an officer of the United States with a deadly weapon, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. On October 2, 2024, MICHAEL LOTT pleaded guilty to the same charges as TROPEZ. On November 22, 2024, VERNELL WOODARD pleaded guilty to the methamphetamine conspiracy and distribution charges, as well as the charges related to his participation in the armed robbery and to maintaining a drug involved premises. Finally, on December 5, 2024, QUINDELE ADDISON pleaded guilty to the methamphetamine conspiracy, the distribution of methamphetamine, in addition to being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and maintaining a drug involved premises.

SHEENA RUDOLPH and CORIS ADDISON are set for sentencing on January 22, 2025. RUDOLPH faces at least five years up to forty years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000, at least four years of supervised release, and a $100 per count mandatory special assessment. CORIS ADDISON faces a potential penalty of up to twenty years, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release.

DIANTA TROPEZ, MICHAEL LOTT, and VERNELL WOODARD are set to be sentenced on February 18 and 19, 2025. On the drug counts, WOODARD faces at least five years up to forty years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least four years of supervised release. All three defendants face the following potential penalties on the armed robbery counts: for the conspiracy, a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release; for the robbery of a person of money belonging to the United States, a penalty of up to twenty-five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release; for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, a mandatory minimum of at least seven years up to life in prison, that must run consecutive to every other term of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release; and, or the assault on a federal officer, up to twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. LOTT and TROPEZ also face up to fifteen years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release, on the felon in possession of a firearm counts.

QUINDELE ADDISON is set to be sentenced on March 26, 2025. On the drug counts, he faces up to twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release. For the possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, he faces a mandatory minimum of at least five years up to life in prison, that must run consecutive to every other term of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release. Finally, on the felon in possession of a firearm count, QUINDELE ADDISON faces up to fifteen years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

As to every charged count to which a defendant has pled guilty, that person would also face payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The investigation of this case was conducted, primarily, by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, that was assisted by the Louisiana State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and Crimestoppers GNO. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David Haller, Senior Litigation Counsel and PSN Coordinator, and Nolan Paige, Chief of the Narcotics Unit.

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Updated December 13, 2024