Two Louisiana Men Plead Guilty to Drug Trafficking Conspiracy, Each Now Faces Up to 20 Years and a $1 Million Fine

New Orleans, Louisiana – Two Louisiana men have pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking conspiracy, and each now faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine.

On April 25, 2023, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced Daron Williams, age 47, and Joshua Mackey, age 37, residents of Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana, pled guilty on April 24, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan.

Williams pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846, as well as possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1) (C).

Mackey pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine base (“crack”), in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a) (2).

A DEA investigation indicated that Williams and Mackey were participating in a drugs distribution conspiracy with multiple additional co-conspirators between June 8, 2020, and June 5, 2021, according to court records. Williams was a regular distributor of methamphetamine as part of the scheme. Agents surveilled Williams to perform a hand-to-hand methamphetamine deal before pulling him over and seizing a quantity of methamphetamine from him.

According to court filings, Mackey regularly supplied quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine. Authorities executed a search warrant at Mackey’s home and seized cocaine, methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and an illegal firearm.

Williams and Mackey face up to twenty years in jail, a $1,000,000.00 fine, at least three years of supervised release following any period of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee for each drug violation. Mackey faces up to ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release following any period of imprisonment, and a $100 obligatory special assessment fee for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Narcotics Unit is in charge of the prosecution.