Federal court files felony drug charges against Darren Sharper

Former NFL safety Darren Sharper and co-defendant Brandon Licciardi, a deputy with the St. Bernard Parish sheriff's office, were charged with felony drug charges in federal court Friday, Travers Mackel of WDSU-TV reports.

The drug charges stem from rape allegations against both men in New Orleans. If convicted, they face a mandatory life sentence.

(Courtesy: WDSU-TV)

In a six-count indictment obtained by WDSU-TV, federal prosecutors state that Sharper and Licciardi 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 occurred on Feb. 2, 2013, on Sept. 23, 2013 and from "at least January 2010 up to and including May 1, 2014."

Sharper was indicted by a grand jury Friday morning on two counts of aggravated rape stemming from accusations that he sexually assaulted two impaired women at his New Orleans apartment on Sept. 23, 2013. He was also charged with simple rape of another woman on Aug. 31, 2013.