Illegal Possession of Drugs Leads to Lengthy Federal Prison Sentences for Three Louisiana Men
SHREVEPORT, La. - Three Louisiana men have been sentenced for their involvement in the trafficking of dangerous illegal drugs in the Western District of Louisiana, Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today.
Ringgold Man to Spend 10 Years in Prison
Xxavier Reed, 28, of Ringgold, was sentenced by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to 120 months (10 years) in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Reed pleaded guilty on November 14, 2019.
This case was dubbed “Operation Meltdown” and was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. From at least January 2017 through June 2018, Xxavier Reed and other co-conspirators were distributing methamphetamine and crack cocaine in the Ringgold area. On four separate occasions during this time period, law enforcement agents conducted controlled purchases of crack cocaine and methamphetamine from Xxavier Reed and agents were able to video and audio record each transaction. A lab analysis of the drugs purchased on these four occasions revealed that a total of 11.2 grams of cocaine base and 26.79 grams of methamphetamine were attributable to Reed’s drug trafficking activities. Reed agreed that the scope of his involvement in the conspiracy was between 1,000 and 3,000 kilograms of cocaine base and methamphetamine. Reed is a convicted felon previously convicted of distribution of controlled substances in 2011.
The FBI, ATF and Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison L. Duncan prosecuted the case.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence—riven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Alexandria Man Sentenced for Distribution of Fentanyl
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Demario Marquel Jones, 32, of Alexandria, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell to 130 months (10 years, 10 months) in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for distributing fentanyl. Jones pleaded guilty on August 13, 2020.
According to information presented to the court, Jones a/k/a “Yoda Black” was known to be a narcotics dealer in the Alexandria area. On four separate occasions between August and September 2019, law enforcement agents conducted controlled purchases of narcotics from Jones. Agents were able to video and audio record each transaction. A lab analysis of the drugs purchased on these four occasions revealed that a total of 8.29 grams of fentanyl and 6.8 grams of heroin were sold by Jones.
Jones was sentenced as an Armed Career Criminal, having prior felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute a dangerous substance (2010); conspiracy to commit armed robbery (2011); possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (2018); and obstruction of justice (2018).
The FBI conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moody prosecuted the case.
Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 9+ Years in Prison
ALEXANDRIA, La. - Raymond Dixon, 45, of Alexandria, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell to 110 months (9 years, 2 months) in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. Dixon pleaded guilty on August 13, 2020.
Law enforcement agents attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation on January 24, 2019 in Alexandria. Once the agents activated their lights, the driver began to accelerate to a high rate of speed, which led to a short pursuit. The driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a yard. Agents then observed the driver, determined to be Raymond Dixon, toss a wrapped up package from the driver’s window into the yard. Law enforcement officers took Dixon into custody and located the wrapped package which he had tossed into the yard. Inside the package was a quart-size freezer bag containing a brownish powder substance, a pill bottle with 29 small individually tied packages of similar brownish powder, and another pill bottle labeled and identified as an antibiotic. The brownish powder substance was taken to the North Louisiana Crime Lab in Alexandria and was confirmed to contain fentanyl and had an aggregate weight of 87.54 grams. Dixon told officers that he thought the substance he was selling was heroin and that he had been selling it for several months.
The FBI and Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.
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