Jury indicts sex offender on drug charge
A registered sex offender from Detroit was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Texarkana for possession with the intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.
Rhasheem Jamal Gordon, 40, is accused of possessing the drug Feb. 27 in Bowie County, Texas, according to Gordon’s one-count indictment. Gordon first appeared in federal court in Texarkana for an initial appearance on a criminal complaint March 1. He is being held in the Titus County jail.
Gordon was convicted of criminal sexual conduct, attempted, involving a person 13 to 15, in Michigan in 1995
and again in 2002. As a result of those convictions, Gordon is required to register as a sex offender.
Gordon’s indictment in the cocaine case includes a notice from the government of its intent to seek a $180,000 judgment against Gordon meant to represent the proceeds of his illegal conduct. If convicted of possession with the intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, Gordon faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum life sentence, a fine up to $10 million, or both. If Gordon has a prior felony conviction for a drug offense, the minimum punishment increases to 20 years and the possible fine to $20 million. If Gordon has two prior felony drug convictions, he faces a mandatory life sentence and a fine up to $20 million.
Gordon is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven for arraignment March 30 in Texarkana’s downtown federal building.