Last of six defendants in cocaine distribution conspiracy sentenced

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that a Shreveport man was sentenced last week to 80 months in prison for his role in a cocaine distribution conspiracy that stretched from Dallas to Shreveport.

Sanchez Latson, 41, of Shreveport, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of conspiracy to distribute powder cocaine.  He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release.  Latson is the last to be sentenced of six defendants from Texas and Shreveport who pleaded guilty to various cocaine distribution related charges.  According to the guilty pleas, Latson conspired with other defendants to possess with intent to distribute powder cocaine from April 2015 to November 2015.  The drugs were purchased in Dallas and then transported to Shreveport.  They were also recorded planning sales and trips to deliver the drugs.

The other defendants previously sentenced in the conspiracy are:

Keimond De Andri Graham, 33, of Arlington, Texas, was sentenced on August 11, 2016 to 70 months in prison and four years of supervised release for one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Jermaine Cassie Steadman, 31, of Shreveport, was sentenced on August 18, 2016 to 62 months in prison and three years of supervised release for one count of conspiracy to distribute powder cocaine and one count of distribution of powder cocaine.

Alonzo B. Morris, 37, of Shreveport, was sentenced on August 11, 2016 to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release for one count of conspiracy to distribute powder cocaine and one count of distribution of powder cocaine.

Ravion Delshon Shelley, 38, of Shreveport, was sentenced on September 13, 2016 to 80 months in prison and three years of supervised release for one count of conspiracy to distribute powder cocaine.

Cedric Ray Alford, 25, of Shreveport, was sentenced on August 11, 2016 to eight months in prison and three years of supervised release for one count of conspiracy to distribute powder cocaine.

This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation.  The DEA, Louisiana State Police and Smith County Texas Sheriff’s Office participated in the investigation.  The OCDETF program is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt and dismantle the targeted criminal organization, and to seize its assets. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison D. Bushnell prosecuted the case.