Lafayette Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Cocaine Trafficking; Defendant was Identified on I-10 During Routine Traffic Stop

LAFAYETTE - On July 22, 2026, United States District Judge David C. Joseph sentenced Jeremy Black, 52, of Lafayette, to 84 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).

According to court documents, on March 25, 2025, police initiated a traffic stop on Black's vehicle after observing several traffic violations on Interstate 10 (I-10), which included following too closely and improper lane usage. During an authorized search, officers found a black and gray bag containing two kilogram-sized bundles of suspected narcotics wrapped in brown tape. A field test confirmed the presence of cocaine. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) laboratory testing later verified that the bundles contained 1,999.8 grams of cocaine, an amount consistent with large-scale trafficking operations.

U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.

Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office Narcotics Criminal Patrol Unit (LPSONU CPU) and the DEA investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy prosecuted the case with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle.

This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America (TBA), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's agencies, and coordinates efforts with state and local law enforcement and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump's Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF), ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. Learn more about PSN at https://www.justice.gov/psn.

This press release (and any updates) will be available on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.

Court documents and information can be found at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer under Case Number 6:25-CR-00192.

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Public Affairs
United States Attorney's Office
Western District of Louisiana
[email protected]
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLA