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3 From Louisiana Sentenced for Trafficking of Fentanyl, 1 Receives 20 Year Sentence

Published January 26, 2022

One from Louisiana has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, and two others have received lesser sentences for their involvement in the trafficking of fentanyl.

Louisiana – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that three individuals from Louisiana have been sentenced by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell for their involvement in the trafficking of fentanyl.

Makayla Monique Smith, 29, of Campti, Louisiana, received a one-year and one-day prison sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. Smith was charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl in a July 2020 indictment and pleaded guilty on July 7, 2021. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Cenla Safe Streets Task Force launched an investigation into drug trafficking activities in the Natchitoches, Louisiana area in March 2020. During their investigation, law enforcement agents discovered that three USPS Priority Parcels addressed to a known vacant address were received in the Natchitoches Post Office but were returned to the post office as “undeliverable.” A person called the USPS Hotline to inquire about the subject parcels and left a phone number for a callback. An agent from the United States Postal Inspection Service contacted the individual and gave him a new address in Campti to which the subject parcels could be delivered.

Agents from law enforcement arranged for a narcotic detection K-9 to conduct an open-air narcotics sniff of the subject parcels, which positively alerted to the presence of narcotics. Agents obtained a search warrant and discovered approximately 51 grams of fentanyl in the parcels. Agents attempted a controlled delivery to the new address provided, but the parcels were refused by an adult female resident of the address. USPS contacted the person who provided the new address and left a message saying that delivery was attempted but the parcels were refused. A man called the post office and informed them that the packages would be picked up. That afternoon, agents saw two females arrive in a Jeep, enter the post office, retrieve the subject parcels, drive to a Campti residence, and take the packages inside. Soon after, two men arrived at the house and entered. After that, a female exited the residence and placed a box inside the Jeep, and the two females and four children got into the Jeep and drove away, followed by the two males.

Surveillance agents observed the two vehicles traveling from Campti to Natchitoches and were able to stop their vehicles for probable cause. Smith was the driver of the Jeep, and the other driver was her boyfriend and co-defendant. A K-9 officer alerted agents to the presence of narcotics at the rear of the Jeep, and the three packages were discovered in the rear area covered by a blanket. Smith was arrested along with her co-defendants, Jeremy Dewayne Armstrong and Earl Mack Wallace, II. All three defendants admitted to being involved in the fentanyl acquisition.

Smith’s co-defendants, Jeremy Dewayne Armstrong, 37, of Natchitoches, and Earl Mack Wallace, II, 39, of Campti, both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to the following by Judge Dee D. Drell: Armstrong was sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, while Wallace was sentenced to three years of probation.

“A few grains of fentanyl can have deadly consequences and unfortunately fentanyl overdose cases have been an issue across our district in recent years,“ said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “One of our goals will be to vigorously prosecute those who possess this drug illegally. Further, we will continue to work closely with all of our law partners to disrupt drug fentanyl and methamphetamine traffickers, stopping them in their tracks.

The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Natchitoches Police Department investigated the case. U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown prosecuted the case.