BATON ROUGE — Six members of what federal authorities described as a Donaldsonville drug trafficking operation have been sentenced to prison in a 2024 case that led to the seizure of fentanyl, cocaine and guns.
They were dealing cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, oxycodone and heroin, the U.S. Attorney’s office said in a news release.
“Armed drug trafficking poses an immediate, dangerous threat to public safety,” said Keith Bakewell, the DEA assistant special agent in charge. “By leveraging the full strength of the Homeland Security Task Force and our local law enforcement partners, we systemically dismantled a Donaldsonville drug organization, stripping them of illegally possessed rifles, handguns, and lethal doses of fentanyl.”
Leroy Miles, 47, was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by four years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess drugs with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in drug trafficking and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon.
James Miles, 49 pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess drugs with intent to distribute. He was sentenced to 158 months, or a little more than 13 years, in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Joseph Brown, 39, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess drugs with intent to distribute and to distribution of heroin and fentanyl. He was sentenced to 92 months, or just over 7 1/2 years, in prison and four years of supervised release.
Marishell Ealem, 40, was sentenced to 80 months, or just over 6 1/2 years, in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Ealem pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess drugs with intent to distribute and with distribution of heroin and fentanyl.
Corey Powe, 57, pleaded guilty to possession of firearms in a drug trafficking crime. He was sentenced to five years in prison.
Destiny Renee McBride, 35, was sentenced to 1 1/2 years in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess drugs with intent to distribute.
U.S. Attorney Kurt Wall said the investigation involved local and federal agencies working together.
“Every law enforcement agency throughout the Middle District is committed to eliminating these drug trafficking organizations,” Wall said. “The teamwork involved in this investigation is further proof that our Homeland Security Task Force is working.”
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