Related Content
Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that 10 defendants were sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell, for their roles in a cocaine distribution network operating across the central Louisiana area.
The defendants were sentenced on Thursday and Friday to three years of supervised release in addition to the drug conspiracy charge. They are: Michael J. Wright, 27, of Houston, who received 70 months in prison; Dennis Wayne Bradford, 30, of Cottonport, La., who received 54 months; Falon S. Maricle, 31, who received 40 months and Brandon C. Thomas, 31, who received 152 months, both of Marksville, La.; Abraham Baylor III, 39, who received 45 months, Earnest G. Miles III, 25, who received 48 months, Leotis V. Perry, 36, who received 60 months, Sedrick D. Porter, 36, who received 60 months, Terrace D. Winchester, 34, who received 44 months, and Dontour D. Drakes, 37, who received 168 months, all of Alexandria, La. Drakes was also sentenced to five years in prison as part of his sentence for one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, from January 2012 through March 2013, authorities in Avoyelles and Rapides parishes conducted an investigation into cocaine trafficking that resulted in the arrest of these 10 defendants. It was determined that this group was responsible for the sale and distribution of more than 10 kilos of cocaine. Law enforcement agents seized more than 5 kilograms of powder cocaine, 500 grams of crack cocaine, and approximately $70,000 in cash. The defendants obtained their cocaine from Houston and converted it into crack in the central Louisiana area to sell in Avoyelles and Rapides parishes.
The FBI Central Louisiana Safe Streets Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service Task Force, the Louisiana State Police, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office, Alexandria Police Department, and the Louisiana Probation and Parole Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James G. Cowles and Seth Reeg prosecuted the case.