LAFAYETTE, La. – Joshua Lewis, 50, of Basile, Louisiana, has been sentenced for possessing cocaine and cocaine base with the intent to distribute, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced Lewis to 60 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Evidence introduced in court revealed that beginning in August 2019 and continuing through January 2021, Lewis conspired with Shawn White, Courtney Smith, Shane Malveaux, Kevin Hardy, and others to distribute narcotics, including cocaine and cocaine base in south Louisiana. During their investigation into this drug trafficking organization, agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) obtained evidence through the use of controlled purchases of narcotics with confidential sources, as well as the interception of wire communications between the defendants in this organization.
On or about January 7, 2021, agents obtained intercepted communications between Lewis and White which revealed that they worked out a deal for Lewis to purchase powder cocaine from White. Lewis and his co-defendants were charged in an indictment on February 10, 2021. On March 17, 2023, Lewis pleaded guilty and admitted that he was in an agreement with his coconspirators to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.
Three other defendants were charged in this case and have been sentenced as follows:
Shane Christopher Malveaux, 51, of Eunice, Louisiana, was sentenced to 100 months (8 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiring with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.
Courtney Nacol Smith, 48, of Katy, Texas, to 60 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.
Shawn Dwayne White, 46, of Eunice, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for conspiring with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.
The case was investigated by the DEA and Department of Homeland Security-Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.