Department of Justice

MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the sentencing of five men yesterday in the Western District of Louisiana for drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms. United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced the following defendants: 

Monta L. Allen, 37, of Monroe, was sentenced to 216 months (18 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On January 23, 2021, officers with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop the vehicle Allen was driving for a traffic violation. Allen fled from deputies and led them on a high-speed chase and was ultimately stopped. Deputies arrested Allen and seized a white plastic bag from the vehicle which contained more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. A search warrant was obtained for Allen’s residence in Monroe and law enforcement agents found a firearm, ammunition, more narcotics, drug paraphernalia, and cash. Allen later admitted to agents that he used methamphetamine and that the package found in his vehicle was his and he intended to sell it.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew C. Weber.

John S. Lee, 41, of Tallulah, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years), followed by 3 years of supervised release. Lee pleaded guilty April 26, 2023, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. These charges stem from an investigation into the drug trafficking activities of Lee. During the investigation by law enforcement agents, they were able to obtain a state search warrant for Lee’s residence and on March 17, 2022, executed that warrant. Prior to execution of the warrant, agents conducted surveillance of Lee’s residence and observed him and a female leave in separate vehicles. Both vehicles were stopped by law enforcement agents and a search of the female’s vehicle revealed a backpack containing over $10,000 in cash, two firearms, and approximately four kilograms of powder cocaine. A search of the residence resulted in the discovery of approximately 38 grams of cocaine. Lee admitted to agents that the backpack in the female’s trunk belonged to him and that he had asked her to put the items in her car. He also admitted to knowing that as a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing any firearms.

The case was investigated by the DEA, ATF, Louisiana State Police and Madison Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Alexander C. Van Hook, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon.

Rawtavious Demon Moore, 36, of Monroe, was sentenced to 132 months (11 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On September 4, 2022, an officer with the Monroe Police Department approached Moore while he was sitting in his vehicle. The officer asked Moore to step out of the vehicle and the officer found a loaded Smith and Wesson Model 637 .38 caliber firearm inside. Agents with the ATF examined the firearm and found it be a functioning firearm and determined it had traveled in interstate commerce. Moore was a convicted felon, having previously been convicted of possession with intent to distribute MDMA in 2021, and knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

The case was investigated by the ATF and Monroe Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy.

Darrick Laron Hamilton, 33, of Monroe, was sentenced to 96 months (8 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl. In April of 2022, law enforcement agents with the Metro Narcotics Unit in Monroe began an investigation into the drug trafficking activities of Hamilton. Agents obtained evidence that Hamilton met an individual and sold and distributed approximately 5.5 grams of a substance that contained fentanyl to that party. The substance was sent to the North Louisiana Crime Lab for testing and confirmed the seized substance to contain fentanyl.

The case was investigated by the DEA, ATF, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and Monroe Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon H. Whitten.

Derrick Logwood, 23, of Monroe, was sentenced to 62 months (5 years, 2 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Logwood pleaded guilty on April 26, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On December 21, 2022, an officer with the West Monroe Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle which was being driven without working brake lights and other violations. The driver and sole occupant was identified as Logwood. The officer observed the grip of a pistol sticking out of Logwood’s pants pocket and he was ordered out of the vehicle. Officers seized a loaded Glock 23Gen5 .40 caliber pistol from Logwood’s pocket. In addition, officers detected the smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle and Logwood admitted to having marijuana in a backpack on the back seat. Inside the backpack officers found three large plastic bags of suspected marijuana and a digital scale. The substance was sent to the crime lab for testing and confirmed to be marijuana with an aggregate weight of 2.00 pounds. Logwood had a previous felony conviction of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling in 2019 and knew that he was prohibited from having any firearm or ammunition.

The case was investigated by the ATF and West Monroe Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan.