Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Investigation Leads to Conviction of Broussard Man for Possession of Cocaine

LAFAYETTE, La. –  Morris James, 52, of Broussard, Louisiana, has been sentenced on drug related charges, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. James was sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 42 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.

This charge was the result of a traffic stop conducted by the Lafayette Police Department of the vehicle being driven by James at approximately 2:20 a.m. on June 22, 2021. James was the sole occupant of the vehicle and during the traffic stop gave officers consent to search his vehicle. During the search, officers recovered approximately 1.6 kilograms of suspected cocaine from a duffel bag located in the trunk of the vehicle.

The suspected narcotics were sent to the DEA Southeast Laboratory for testing and the results confirmed that the substance was cocaine with a net weight of 1503.5 grams. James pleaded guilty to the charge of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine on September 12, 2023.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog.

The investigation and conviction of Morris is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

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