Texas Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Conspiracy

Gulfport, MS – Deandrae Damonn Washington, 33, of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to125 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Washington was also ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.

On August 20, 2017, Washington’s vehicle was stopped at a checkpoint in Magee, Mississippi. During the stop, officers smelled marijuana emitting from the vehicle, and Washington admitted to smoking marijuana an hour before he was stopped. Upon consent to search the vehicle, officers located several packages of methamphetamine concealed in a backpack. Washington admitted to knowing the methamphetamine was in the vehicle and conspiring to transport it from Texas to Jackson County, Mississippi. He further admitted that he had previously transported methamphetamine on seven separate occasions to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. A laboratory analyzed the methamphetamine and determined it had a purity level of 100% and weighed almost 2 kilograms. Washington pled guilty on February 21, 2018.

The case was investigated by the Magee Police Department, South Mississippi Metropolitan Enforcement Team (SMMET), Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN), and FBI Safe Streets Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk.