Federal Jury Finds Tennessee Man Guilty of Major Cocaine Conspiracy Stretching Across Several States

Gulfport, Miss. –Fortrell Latrae Sain, 38, of Memphis, Tennessee, was found guilty by a federal jury on Friday of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, announced United States Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Jere T. Miles with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) in New Orleans.

In late 2018, HSI agents began investigating a drug trafficking organization with connections to Memphis, Tennessee and Indianapolis, Indiana.  Through their investigation, agents determined Sain acted as the middle man in the multi-state, cocaine conspiracy that involved co-defendants, Ray Parham and Riondal Taylor.  During trial, it was revealed that Sain played an intricate role in aiding the drug trafficking organization with making connections for their supply of cocaine.  Throughout the conspiracy, Sain communicated with Parham and others with the goal of securing a purchase of 25 kilograms of cocaine. 

Parham and Taylor pled guilty for their roles in the conspiracy on November 8, 2019. Taylor will be sentenced on March 3, 2020, at 1:30 p.m., and Parham will be sentenced on March 4, 2020, at 1:30 p.m.  Both sentencings will be before Judge Guirola.     

Sain will be sentenced on May 26, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. by Judge Guirola, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.             

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shundral H. Cole and Kathlyn Van Buskirk.