United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEW ORLEANS - Anthony Smith, 50, a resident of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, was sentenced today by U. S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to 183 (15.25 years) imprisonment for his role in a conspiracy involving the trafficking of more than five kilograms of cocaine from the Houston, Texas area, to Bogalusa, Louisiana.In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Milazzo imposed 10 years of supervised release following the term of imprisonment. 

On December 12, 2011, Smith previously entered a guilty plea admitting that he drove to Texas on several occasions with and on behalf of co-defendant Derek Moss for the purposes of obtaining cocaine from drug source Luis Colon.  During the investigation, agents observed Smith meet with Colon, Moss and Mark for the purpose of transporting drugs between Texas and Louisiana.  During one of the occasions, agents followed Smith, Moss and Mark back from Texas to the Laplace, LA area.  Smithwas stopped as he traveled toward Ponchatoula, LA on Interstate 55.  Mark and Moss were subsequently arrested later that day following a car chase through Metairie, which ended on the Mississippi River levee.  It was at this location where agents apprehended Mark and Moss as they attempted to discard nearly four kilograms of cocaine.

After sentencing, Smith was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service to begin his term of imprisonment.

This case was investigated by special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Louisiana State Police, and Bogalusa Police Department.   The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin G. Boitmann.

Parents and children are encouraged to educate themselves about the dangers of drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov