A convicted felon was arrested following a Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office drug and firearm operation at an Alexandria motel on February 18.
Authorities said Jamaar Antonio Payne, 43, of Montegut, faces multiple charges including:
Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, powder cocaine, and marijuana
Illegal carry of a firearm in the presence of drugs
Possession of a firearm as a convicted felon
Possession of drug paraphernalia
Transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses
Investigators said the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement Unit began looking into complaints of illegal drug sales from Payne’s motel room in early February 2026. On February 18, a RPSO SWAT team executed a search and arrested Payne.
Items seized included:
2 grams of fentanyl
Over 127 grams of methamphetamine
11 grams of crack cocaine
30 grams of marijuana
1 gram of powder cocaine
A handgun
$624 believed to be drug proceeds
Payne, prohibited from possessing firearms as a convicted felon, was booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center and is being held on a $216,500 bond pending further legal proceedings.
