Distribution of Fentanyl Sends Abbeville Man Back to Federal Prison

Louisiana Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Distribution While Still on Supervised Release

Louisiana. – Raymond Hawthorne, Jr., 48, of Abbeville, Louisiana, was sentenced by United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey to 57 months (4 years, 9 months) in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for fentanyl distribution, according to United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. On November 4, 2021, Hawthorne pleaded guilty to the charge.

On August 27, 2019, undercover law enforcement officers made arrangements to purchase fentanyl from Hawthorne. He told them where they should meet to buy the drugs. When his co-defendant arrived as directed by Hawthorne, he gave the purchaser approximately 25 grams of a mixture containing detectable amounts of fentanyl in exchange for cash. Following the transaction, law enforcement officers observed Hawthorne’s co-defendant drive directly to meet Hawthorne and hand over the proceeds of the drug transaction.

Hawthorne was on federal supervised release at the time of his arrest after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base in 2002.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration and the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.