Bay St. Louis Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Dosage Units of Pills Containing Fentanyl

Gulfport, Miss. – A Bay St. Louis woman pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 dosage units of pills containing fentanyl.

Emma Kate Stoute, 18, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport on November 27, 2023.

According to court documents, on August 29, 2023, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration followed up on a written complaint that alleged there was drug trafficking activity occurring at the Motel 6 in Bay St. Louis. Agents conducted surveillance on the motel and narrowed down the suspected parties and rooms.  During surveillance, agents observed a red Toyota Camry arrive at the hotel to pick up two of the individuals suspected of selling drugs.  Once the vehicle departed, agents conducted rolling surveillance of the vehicle and observed the occupants of the vehicle participate in what appeared to be a drug transaction in Louisiana.  After the transaction, agents followed the vehicle back into Mississippi and conducted a traffic stop.  Stoute was identified as one of the occupants of the vehicle.  She was in possession of 50 dosage units of pills containing fentanyl.  A subsequent search of her cellular device yielded messages confirming that Stoute was trafficking fentanyl pills in the Southern District of Mississippi. 

Stoute is scheduled to be sentenced on March 21, 2024.  She faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.