Source: United States Department of Justice News
SHREVEPORT/MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that four defendants have been sentenced in U.S. District Court in connection with three separate cases. The defendants and their sentences are as follows:
Schyler Algernon Smith and Ladarrell Cortrell Washington, both of Shreveport, Louisiana, have been sentenced by Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. on drug trafficking charges. Smith, 33, was sentenced to 262 months (21 years, 10 months) in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Washington, 41, was sentenced to 63 months (5 years, 3 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for distribution of methamphetamine.
Smith pleaded guilty on October 21, 2021 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Washington pleaded guilty on August 17, 2021 to distribution of methamphetamine. The charges in this case stem from an investigation by agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). On February 7, 2019, agents conducted surveillance of Washington as he met his suspected source of supply of narcotics, who was later determined to be Smith. Through their investigation, agents were able to prove that the package delivered to Washington by Smith and later sold to another individual, contained 500 MDMA tablets. Those tablets were sent to the DEA Criminalistics Laboratory and determined to be 102.9 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the DEA and prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy.
Billy Ray Murphy, Jr., 37, of Shreveport, was sentenced by United States District Judge Donald E. Walter to 151 months (12 years, 7 month), followed by 5 years of supervised release. Murphy was indicted and pleaded guilty on December 2, 2021 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On April 18, 2021, a Louisiana State Police trooper conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle being driven by Murphy. When Murphy opened the glove box to retrieve the vehicle paperwork, the trooper observed a handgun in the glove box. Murphy told the trooper that the firearm belonged to his girlfriend and gave consent to search the vehicle. Inside the trunk, troopers found 2.37 pounds of cocaine, 19.9 pounds of MDMA (more than 60,000 pills), and 21.5 pounds of synthetic marijuana. The MDMA was tested and found to contain methamphetamine. In addition, Murphy had four cell phones, a scale and a large amount of cash in the vehicle.
The case was investigated by the DEA and Louisiana State Police and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford.
Jeremy Michael Davis, 37, of Monroe, Louisiana was sentenced by United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty to 196 months (16 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 5 years supervised release, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began an investigation into the drug trafficking activities of Davis and his co-defendants. Through their investigation, they learned that beginning in October 2018 and continuing through March 2020, Davis conspired with three other individuals to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. On November 7, 2019, agents were able to intercept a phone call with Davis wherein he discussed the purchase price and sale of methamphetamine. Agents then conducted surveillance and confirmed Davis’ participation in the sale of methamphetamine. Agents ultimately seized the narcotics, and it was tested and confirmed to contain 88.6 grams of actual methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the DEA and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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