South Carolina Man Sentenced to Over 18 Years in Prison for Drug Possession

Gulfport, Miss. – Jason Cooper, 32, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden, to serve 223 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for 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 in New Orleans. Cooper was also ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.

On March 26, 2018, a U.S. Border Patrol agent attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Interstate 10 in D’Iberville on a vehicle driven by Cooper. Cooper failed to stop and began throwing what was later determined to be methamphetamine from the driver’s side window. Cooper exited the interstate in Ocean Springs where law enforcement lost sight of the vehicle. Agents canvassed the area and located the vehicle, which was still occupied by Cooper and his codefendant, Jesus Ernesto Rodriguez. Inside the car, agents located 78.2 grams of methamphetamine.

Cooper pled guilty on August 13, 2018. His co-defendant, Rodriguez, pled guilty on October 15, 2018 and will be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on January 17, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. Rodriguez faces a maximum of 40 years in federal prison.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shundral H. Cole.