Five Defendants Apprehended in a Louisiana Drug Enforcement Operation Sentenced to 55 Years Combined

Louisiana – On August 18, 2022, United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that five defendants who were indicted as a result of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) “Operation Lost and Found” have been sentenced by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote for their involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy.

Timothy Ryan Melton, 31, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced to 151 months (12 years, 7 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Billy Bryan Feroben, 33, of Cabot, Arkansas, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Brent Demonde Smith, Jr., 36, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Serina Khan, 24, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Khan pleaded guilty March 4, 2022 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Robert J. Merritt, 39, of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced to 151 months (12 years, 7 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

After obtaining information that their co-defendant, Demetrius Loston, was distributing large amounts of methamphetamine in the Shreveport, Louisiana area, DEA agents launched an investigation into drug trafficking activities in the Cedar Grove area in July 2020. This OCDETF investigation led to federal indictments against nine defendants for conspiracy to distribute and possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

During their investigation, investigators were able to intercept many phone calls between Loston, Merritt, Smith, and Khan, in which they discussed buying and selling methamphetamine at various times. Law enforcement officials conducted surveillance and witnessed Smith and Khan meet Loston at a predetermined location on multiple occasions to either pick up, drop off, or exchange methamphetamine for money.

Through the interception of phone calls, law enforcement authorities were able to establish Merritt as a source of methamphetamine supply. Agents observed Merritt and Loston meeting and got video surveillance from Loston’s residence showing Merritt walking a shoe box from his vehicle into the residence’s carport. The intercepted phone calls between the two defendants were consistent with this evidence. Shortly after that encounter, Merritt was arrested.

Billy Bryan Feroben was also implicated in the acquisition of methamphetamine from Loston, which he subsequently sold and distributed for profit to others. In August 2020, a search warrant was performed at a house in Shreveport, and agents established contact with Feroben at that time. Agents discovered over 200 gross grams of methamphetamine and guns in his car trunk. Feroben told agents he would meet Loston at a petrol station to buy methamphetamine for distribution.

On August 24, 2020, deputies from the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. When the deputy approached the vehicle, Timothy Ryan Melton, the driver, could only produce an identification card. Deputies asked Melton to exit the vehicle and conduct a pat-down search before being granted permission to search it. From the center console, deputies seized a considerable sum of cash and drugs. The methamphetamine was packed for sale on the street. Melton confirmed that the drugs were his and that he had been working with Loston to obtain methamphetamine for the purpose of reselling it to others.

The DEA, ATF, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford.

This operation is part of the ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach to identify, disrupt, and destroy the highest-level criminal organizations that pose a threat to the United States. More information about the OCDETF Program is available by following this link.