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Press Release

Mississippi couple pleads guilty to transporting cocaine through Webster Parish

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

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Demyia S. Porter, 39, of Canton, Mississippi, pleaded guilty last week before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Hornsby to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine.  The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote.

On August 20, 2018, a Louisiana State trooper initiated a traffic stop on Interstate 20 in Webster Parish on a vehicle driven by Porter, according to the guilty plea.  After questioning Porter and the passenger of the vehicle, Naquita N. Graves, also of Canton, Mississippi, the trooper obtained consent by Porter to search the vehicle.  He found $2,647 in Graves’ purse and approximately 10 kilograms of suspected cocaine in a suitcase in the trunk of the car.  Graves and Porter admitted to traveling to Dallas to pick up the illegal drugs for a third unnamed individual.

The defendants face 10 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a $10 million fine.  Graves pleaded guilty on February 7, 2019 to the same charge.  The sentencing date for both defendants is June 14, 2019.

The DEA and the Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth D. Reeg and Jessica D. Cassidy are prosecuting the case.

Updated February 20, 2019

Topic
Drug Trafficking