Attempted Possession of 10 Pounds of Methamphetamine Lands Louisiana Man in Prison for 10 Years

Lafayette, Louisiana - A Louisiana man has been sentenced to ten years in prison after agents arrest him for attempted possession of more than ten pounds of methamphetamine.

United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Jaron Mitchell, 30, of New Iberia, Louisiana, was sentenced to 122 months (10 years, 2 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, as a result of a conviction for attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge David C. Joseph conducted the sentencing hearing.

In this case, a Customs and Border Protection Officer (CBPO) intercepted a package at UPS World Port in Louisville, Kentucky on May 10, 2022, and Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) launched an inquiry. Detectives discovered that the package contained numerous smaller boxes bound for a residence in New Iberia, Louisiana. The boxes contained infant/baby equipment, toys, and ten (10) large Ziplock bag bundles containing suspected methamphetamine, each weighing roughly one pound, according to agents. The overall weight of the suspected methamphetamine was little more than ten pounds. The package was tracked to a home associated with Mitchell and then to a car where it was discovered.
Mitchell was seen picking up the package from the property where it was delivered and was the driver of the automobile when officers discovered it. A data extraction from Mitchell's phone revealed that he had been tracking the delivery using the UPS app on his phone. Mitchell entered a guilty plea on December 9, 2022.

Homeland Security Investigation, Customs and Border Protection, and the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy.