Natchitoches Man Sentenced To 60 Months In Prison For Cocaine, Meth Distribution

SHREVEPORT, La. – A Natchitoches man was sentenced last week to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his part in a cocaine and methamphetamine distribution operation in parts of northwest and southwest Louisiana, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced.

Michael R. Casson, 38, of Natchitoches, La., was sentenced on Friday by U.S. District Court Judge Elizabeth E. Foote, for one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine and methamphetamine.  According to evidence presented at the March, 12, 2014 guilty plea, law enforcement agents investigated Casson as part of a DEA Task Force investigation into cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking in Bossier, Caddo, Natchitoches, and Vernon parishes and the state of Texas in 2012 and 2013.  Agents recorded Casson and another suspect discussing drug trafficking on several occasions.  Casson later set up a sale of cocaine to the suspect in April of 2013.

Casson was indicted on August 28, 2013, along with Eric Hunter, 43, of Natchitoches; Marquis Williams, 28, and Melvin Bobby Morris Jr., 25, both of Leesville, La.; and Isaiah Golston III, 42, of Shreveport. Golston was sentenced to 21 months in prison on June 12, 2014. Hunter was sentenced to 100 months in prison, and Williams was sentenced to 35 months in prison on June 13, 2014.  Morris was sentenced to 20 months in prison on July 23, 2014.  They were also sentenced to three years of supervised release.

“My office, along with our federal, state and local partners, is committed to keeping our communities safe and will continue to prosecute those who distribute illegal narcotics,” Finley stated.  “I hope those who choose to traffic understand that there are consequences when they pollute our communities with drugs.”  

The defendants were prosecuted as part of OCDETF Operation Styrofoam Cookies.  The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Cowles Jr. prosecuted the case.

The OCDETF program is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.