Advertisement I-Team: Federal drug charges filed against Darren Sharper, former deputy Darren Sharper, Brandon Licciardi, Erik Nunez indicted on state charges Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Former New Orleans Saints player Darren Sharper and co-defendant Brandon Licciardi have been charged with felony drug charges in federal court in addition to state charges filed on Friday, the WDSU I-Team has confirmed.WATCH: ReportSharper and Licciardi face federal drug distribution charges as well as tampering with a witness and obstruction of an official proceeding.PDF: Felony charges filed against Darren SharperIn a six-count indictment, federal prosecutors said Sharper and Licciardi, a St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office deputy at the time of the incident, did "knowingly and intentionally combine, conspire, confederate and agree with each other and others, both known and unknown to the grand jury, to distribute Alprazolam, Diazepam and Zolphidem, schedule IV controlled substances, with the intent to commit a crime of violence, that is, rape..."Prosecutors said the alleged activity happened Feb. 2, 2013, Sept. 23, 2013, and from "at least January 2010 up to and including May 1, 2014."According to prosecutors, Licciardi "did knowingly attempt to corruptly persuade a witness by requesting her to not provide law enforcement officials with certain information concerning his involvement" with the investigation.The filing was unsealed Friday in federal court and is being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Orleans. If convicted, Sharper and Licciardi will face a mandatory life sentence in a federal prison.WATCH: Legal analyst weighs in on Sharper caseSharper and Licciardi, along with Erik Nunez, were indicted on state charges Friday morning in connection with the rape investigation that began in January 2014.Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office spokesman Chris Bowman said Sharper was indicted on two counts of aggravated rape and one count of simple rape.Nunez was indicted on two counts of aggravated rape and one count of obstruction of justice. Nunez' attorney said the obstruction charge is related to his client deleting text messages.Nunez was arrested in the spring and charged with two counts of rape. Police said he and Sharper allegedly raped two separate women inside a Warehouse District condo in September 2013. The third count appears to reveal a new victim in the case.Licciardi was indicted on three counts of human trafficking, one count of aggravated rape and obstruction of justice. Later Friday morning, Licciardi resigned from the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office. He worked full-time at the Sheriff's Office since May 2004 after being employed part-time beginning in June 2002, the Sheriff's Office said.Sharper is charged in Los Angeles and Arizona with rape and remains jailed in California.Arrests warrants for all three have been issued. Licciardi was taken in to federal custody Friday. Licciardi will appear for arraignment at 2 p.m. Monday.Licciardi recently hired Brian and Ralph Capitelli as his defense attorneys. The Capitellis said they are assessing the case and have no comment.Judge Karen Herman recommended a $2 million bond in the case. A bond hearing is set for Monday.If any of the three men are convicted in Louisiana on aggravated rape, they would serve mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole.Stay with WDSU.com for the attest developments on this story.Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!13484466