Convicted Louisiana Man Faces Up to Life in Prison and a $20 Million Fine For Trafficking of Methamphetamine

By Calcasieu Staff
Published April 22, 2023

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Convicted Louisiana Man Faces Up to Life in Prison and a $20 Million Fine For Trafficking of Methamphetamine

Alexandria, Louisiana – A convicted Louisiana man now faces up to life in prison and a $20 million fine for trafficking methamphetamine.

On April 21, 2023, United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Louis Vernon Jackson, 38, of Natchitoches, Louisiana, was convicted by a federal jury on April 20, 2023. United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty presided over the four-day trial in Alexandria. Jackson was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of firearms, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The jury acquitted Jackson of one count of possession with intent to distribute tramadol and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Vernon was participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy with seven other co-defendants between December 1, 2019, and at least May 13, 2020, according to evidence produced during the trial. Authorities launched an investigation into Jackson and his co-defendants’ unlawful drug trafficking activities. Agents spotted Jackson meeting an individual at a Natchitoches motel on April 16, 2020, while conducting surveillance and suspected them of distributing drugs from this location. Jackson and the individual fled in his vehicle and were apprehended by police. Agents discovered keys to a motel room on Jackson’s person. A search warrant was issued for the motel room after further inquiry, and authorities discovered a Marlin rifle, a loaded SCCY 9mm pistol, loaded extended magazines, and ammunition inside. Jackson was forbidden from possessing a firearm or ammunition as a convicted felon.

On May 13, 2020, after his release on bond from the Natchitoches incident, authorities conducted surveillance at a motel in the Alexandria area and noticed Jackson there. A search warrant was performed in Jackson’s hotel room, and agents discovered a large amount of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and over $11,000 in cash.

The remaining seven co-defendants have pled guilty and will be sentenced in the coming weeks.

“This was the culmination of an investigation that spanned multiple federal districts from Louisiana to Mississippi, and we are grateful for this joint investigation and the jury’s work in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “This defendant has a history of selling illegal narcotics which will result in a sentencing enhancement. We look forward to the anticipated sentencing hearing where each of the defendants in this case will be held accountable for their actions. We will not tolerate the distribution of methamphetamine and illegal firearm possession in the Western District of Louisiana.”

Jackson faces a minimum sentence of 15 years to life in prison for each of the drug offenses due to a sentencing enhancement based on his prior criminal history. He also faces up to ten years in prison on the weapons charge, up to 15 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $20,000,000.

The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Bureau of Prisons, the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, and it was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Cytheria D. Jernigan and Brian C. Flanagan.

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