Louisiana Man From West Monroe Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison on Multiple Drug Trafficking Charges

West Monroe, Louisiana – A man from West Monroe, Louisiana has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison on multiple drug trafficking charges.

On May 30, 2023, United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Paul Anthony Lewis, 50, of West Monroe, Louisiana was sentenced today on numerous drug trafficking charges. United States District Judge David C. Joseph sentenced Lewis to 240 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.

In February, Lewis was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl, as well as possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl. Evidence presented at trial revealed that agents with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Metro Narcotics Unit of Ouachita Parish initiated an investigation into Lewis’ potential drug trafficking activities. Agents witnessed parcels transported by the United States Postal Service to Lewis’ stash house while conducting surveillance. During a later investigation of the home, law enforcement officers discovered large amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, cocaine base (commonly known as crack cocaine), and promethazine. Lewis also used his phone to discuss drug trafficking deals with unindicted co-conspirators in Texas and the Western District of Louisiana.

“The choices of this defendant to continue to possess and distribute a buffet of illegal substances, even after having spent time in federal prison before, has resulted in him now spending the later years of his life behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon Br. Brown. “We continue to stand by our commitment to make it a priority in the Western District of Louisiana to have zero tolerance for those who choose to sell narcotics, especially the most dangerous narcotic of all, fentanyl.”

Lewis has a significant criminal past, including a federal conviction in the Eastern District of Louisiana in 2001 for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, for which he was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison.

The DEA, the Metro Narcotics Unit of Ouachita Parish, and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Gaskins and Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.