Shreveport man sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for methamphetamine, firearm charges

SHREVEPORT, La. – U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that a Shreveport man was sentenced Thursday to 135 months in prison for methamphetamine distribution and handgun possession.

Paul Matthew Garza, 35, of Shreveport, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to the September 20, 2016, guilty plea, Garza’s vehicle was pulled over during a traffic stop on May 25, 2016, near the Louisiana-Texas border in Caddo Parish. Upon searching his vehicle, law enforcement found 408 grams of methamphetamine and 142.73 grams of Xanax bars. Upon searching his home, additional methamphetamine and Xanax were found. A Ruger LCP .380 semi-automatic handgun, digital scales and $17,400 were also found in his home.

The DEA and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath prosecuted the case.