Skip to main content
Press Release

Federal jury finds Abbeville man guilty of marijuana shipping scheme

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Louisiana

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a federal jury found an Abbeville man guilty Wednesday of shipping marijuana to himself.

Jabori Huntsberry, 36, of Abbeville, Louisiana, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, one count of unlawful use of a communication facility, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote presided over the trial, which started Monday and ended Wednesday. The jury returned a guilty verdict after deliberating for approximately one hour and 45 minutes.

Evidence admitted at trial revealed that the defendant conspired to receive packages of marijuana from a California source using U.S. mail from October 2011 to February 2014. United States Postal Inspectors discovered that, at multiple times and using different addresses and names, Huntsberry shipped  marijuana to himself. He had money transferred to a California contact before each package was sent. Law enforcement agents conducted a controlled delivery of one of the packages on February 14, 2014, to a residence next to Huntsberry’s home in Abbeville. After an occupant took the package, agents searched both homes. A search of Huntsberry’s home produced a notebook documenting drug activity, U.S. Postal Service mail labels, money transfer receipts, a Ruger model P-89, 9 mm semiautomatic pistol, and a Romarm Model CUGIR, 7.62X39 semiautomatic rifle.

The defendant shipped approximately 200 kilograms of marijuana to himself and electronically transferred nearly $300,000 to the source in California during the conspiracy.

The defendant faces 10 years to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a $10 million fine. Sentencing has been set for December 6, 2018.

The ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamilla A. Bynog and John Luke Walker are prosecuting the case.

Updated August 30, 2018

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Firearms Offenses