Drug Trafficking Investigations Result in Federal Prison Sentences for Three Men
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the resolution of three cases involving the trafficking of illegal narcotics in the Western District of Louisiana. Two of these cases were Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) cases. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
Clay Bryant Lonadier, 42, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced by Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Lonadier pleaded guilty September 9, 2021 to the charge. In July 2020, agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began an investigation into drug trafficking activities in the Shreveport area after receiving information that Lonadier’s co-defendant, Demetrius Loston, was distributing large amounts of methamphetamine. This OCDETF investigation was named “Operation Lost and Found” and resulted in federal indictments against nine defendants for conspiring together to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. During their investigation, agents were able to intercept phone calls between Lonadier and Loston, wherein they communicated about buying and selling methamphetamine. Agents set up surveillance and observed Loston and Lonadier meet on more than one occasion and conduct drug transactions. On November 6, 2020, Lonadier was arrested by officers with the Shreveport Police Department for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the DEA, ATF, Shreveport Police Department and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford.
Arnelius Danta Terrell, 33, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced yesterday by Chief Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 60 months (5 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for distribution of methamphetamine. During an OCDETF investigation into the drug trafficking activities in the Shreveport area, agents met with a confidential informant about undercover purchases that had been made. Agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted surveillance around the Lamar Street area in Shreveport area on April 15, 2019 and observed Terrell arrive at a residence and deliver methamphetamine to an individual. Through phone conversations, agents learned that Terrell brought the methamphetamine at the direction of his uncle. The methamphetamine was seized, and field tested positive for methamphetamine. A laboratory analysis confirmed it to be 53.7 grams of actual methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the DEA and prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown.
In another drug trafficking case, Darren Dewayne Cooper, 33, of Tallulah, Louisiana, was sentenced this week by United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty to 100 months (8 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Through an investigation led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), agents learned that Cooper made arrangements with another individual on the telephone wherein they discussed the sale of narcotics, including the amount and type of narcotics and the sale price. On August 13, 2020, Cooper met the individual at a gas station in Monroe, Louisiana and sold methamphetamine to them. The amount sold was determined to be at least 50 grams of methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the DEA and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon H. Whitten.
