Shreveport, Louisiana – Two Louisiana residents face decades in prison after a federal jury found them guilty of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in Webster Parish and surrounding areas.
Jaworski Batton, 41, from Heflin, Louisiana, and Cody Gibson, 40, also from Heflin, Louisiana, were convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine following a trial in U.S. District Court in Shreveport, according to Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.
The convictions stem from an extensive investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that utilized court-authorized wiretaps, surveillance operations, and coordination with local law enforcement agencies.
Evidence presented during trial showed that both men conspired with Demetric Carey, a co-defendant in the case. The investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation targeting drug distribution in Webster Parish.
DEA agents obtained court approval to intercept communications on Carey’s cell phone, which revealed conversations with both Batton and Gibson regarding drug transactions.
Following intercepted calls between Carey and Batton, agents conducted surveillance at a retail store in Bossier City. Louisiana State Police later stopped Batton’s vehicle and discovered marijuana and methamphetamine in a backpack inside.
In Gibson’s case, agents intercepted communications about meeting Carey in Minden for a drug transaction. A Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputy captured video evidence of Gibson and Carey exchanging money for methamphetamine. Prosecutors presented evidence of multiple similar transactions occurring over several months.
Each defendant now faces a minimum of 5 years and up to 40 years in federal prison, along with potential fines of up to $5 million. U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote has scheduled sentencing for July 15, 2025.
Ten additional defendants connected to this OCDETF case have already pleaded guilty and await sentencing: Demetric Carey, Derrick Carey, Antario Hawk, Eugene Henderson, Damien Rasco, Dana Ray, Holly Reynolds, Corey Russell, Lloyd Smith, and Norell Washington.
The OCDETF program, a prosecutor-led initiative, focuses on dismantling high-level drug trafficking organizations through coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The approach emphasizes intelligence-driven investigations to target criminal networks threatening communities across the United States.
This case was investigated by the DEA, Louisiana State Police, and Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Aaron Crawford and William C. Gaskins.