LAFAYETTE, LA — Derrick Felton, 43, of Alexandria, Louisiana, has been sentenced to 188 months (over 15 years) in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release after being convicted on drug trafficking charges.
Felton’s conviction stems from an investigation into suspicious packages being shipped from Los Angeles, California, to Louisiana. In November 2017, a postal employee discovered three packages sent to an address in the Western District of Louisiana. One of the packages had a torn bottom, prompting a closer inspection. The employee found substances inside the packages that appeared to be methamphetamine.
The FBI was notified, and a drug dog alerted agents to all three packages. A search warrant was executed, revealing a total of 18 pounds of methamphetamine concealed within the packages, surrounded by cooking pans. Felton’s fingerprints were found on two of the pans, linking him to the shipment.
Felton pleaded guilty on August 24, 2021, acknowledging his role in facilitating the delivery of the meth to Louisiana. Laboratory analysis confirmed the substance contained approximately 8 kilograms of methamphetamine.
The investigation was a joint effort between the FBI and the U.S. Postal Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John W. Nickel and Robert C. Abendroth.
