Zwolle man pleads guilty to methamphetamine, firearms charges

SHREVEPORT, La. – U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that a Zwolle man pleaded guilty Monday to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing multiple firearms.

Heath Meshell, 33, of Zwolle, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Hornsby to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement agents searched Meshell’s home on April 12, 2016. The agents found more than 1,700 grams of methamphetamine, a small number of prescription pills, digital scales and $1,585. They also found a 9 mm rifle, 9 mm pistol, a 410 shotgun and assorted rounds of ammunition.

Meshell faces 10 years to life in prison and a $10 million fine for the drug count and not less than five years and a $250,000 fine for the firearms count. He also faces at least five years of supervised release and forfeiture of the firearms and cash seized in the case. A sentencing date of February 20, 2017 was set.

The ATF and the DEA conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown is prosecuting the case.