Picayune Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

Gulfport, Miss.  –  Nygele McKinney, 34, of Picayune, Mississippi, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Jere T. Miles with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New Orleans.   

On December 29, 2018, McKinney, working with co-defendant Leonardo Serra, of Texas, accepted the delivery of a load of methamphetamine in Picayune.  Serra drove the methamphetamine secreted in a vehicle to a residence in Picayune.  HSI Agents executed a search warrant while McKinney was in the process of removing the methamphetamine from the hidden compartment.  The methamphetamine was over 5 kilograms and 90% pure.

McKinney will be sentenced on September 4, 2019, by Judge Ozerden. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.

Leonardo Serra pled guilty on April 16, 2019, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  He will be sentenced on July 17, 2019, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Meynardie.