Four Louisiana Men Sentenced to Over 43 Years Combined for Trafficking Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
Lake Charles, Louisiana / Lafayette, Louisiana – Four Louisiana men have been sentenced to over 43 years combined in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine.
United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that four defendants received lengthy sentences today for their participation in the trafficking of narcotics in the Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Lafayette, Louisiana areas.
United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced two of the defendants in Lake Charles as follows:
Christopher Wayne Jones, II, 29, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was sentenced to 175 months in prison (14 years, 7 months supervised release) for possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute. On November 4, 2020, an officer with the Lake Charles Police Department saw a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed while patrolling an area around 18th Street in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The officer turned on his emergency lights and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle’s driver, later identified as Jones, departed at a high rate of speed. Jones lost control of the vehicle after a brief pursuit, drove off the road, and collided with a power pole. Jones exited the automobile, carrying a red backpack, and escaped on foot. Police gave chase, and Jones was apprehended and arrested shortly after. Officers discovered the red backpack Jones had been carrying in a nearby backyard after a quick check. Officers discovered roughly 554 pills weighing approximately 282 grams inside the backpack. According to lab results, the pills contained a combination of acetaminophen and fentanyl. Officers discovered a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol in Jones’ vehicle, in addition to the narcotics recovered in his bag. On December 12, 2022, Jones pleaded guilty to the charge. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
Michael Javel Toefield, 52, of Baytown, Texas, was sentenced to 130 months in prison (10 years and 10 months), followed by four years of supervised release, for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. On May 13, 2019, officers with the Calcasieu Parish Combined Anti-Drug Task Force, Criminal Patrol Unit, executed a traffic stop on Toefield’s vehicle. Officers initiated a search when a K-9 officer positively alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. Officers uncovered a white bag holding a cardboard beer box and two transparent plastic tubs carrying almost 500 grams of methamphetamine during a search of the vehicle. On November 12, 2022, Toefield pled guilty to the crime after admitting to knowing the drugs were hidden within the box. The Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Calcasieu Parish Combined Anti-Drug Task Force investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
In Lafayette, United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced the following two defendants:
Shane Christopher Malveaux, 51, of Eunice, Louisiana, was sentenced to 100 months in prison (8 years, 4 months) with supervised release for conspiring with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. On November 29, 2022, Malveaux pleaded guilty to the accusation. According to evidence presented in court, Malveaux and others were participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy from August 2019 until January 2021. The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) launched an investigation into their group and made controlled purchases from Malveaux’s co-conspirators. Agents also intercepted electronic exchanges between Malveaux and his co-conspirator, Shawn White, in which Malveaux bought both powder cocaine and cocaine base from White on many occasions. Malveaux was charged with participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy after agents conducted physical and electronic surveillance on him and his drug trafficking activities. The DEA, DHS Investigations, and Louisiana State Police investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
Dallas Prejean, 60, of Lafayette, Louisiana, was sentenced to 113 months in prison (9 years, 5 months supervised release) for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Prejean was indicted in an indictment in October 2019 after being charged in a drug trafficking conspiracy with numerous others. Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) obtained evidence to secure a search warrant for Prejean’s residence in Rayne, Louisiana, through their investigation, which included physical and electronic surveillance of Prejean and his co-defendants. Authorities discovered multiple guns as well as a substantial quantity of narcotics and other drug paraphernalia in the home. Prejean confirmed to authorities that he had the things and pleaded guilty to the allegation on October 13, 2021. The FBI, DEA, and Louisiana State Police investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Nickel.