Final Defendant Sentenced in Multi-State Meth Trafficking Conspiracy; Will Spend Almost 20 Years in Federal Prison

SHREVEPORT - On August 20, 2026, United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks sentenced Jaquez Anthony Flakes, 21, of Natchitoches, to 235 months in federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Flakes was convicted at trial on March 24, 2026.

"Methamphetamine continues to tear through our Louisiana communities, leaving families shattered and lives ruined," said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. "Dismantling this 11-member conspiracy and holding them accountable for their crimes reflects our Office's commitment, alongside our federal and state partners, to invest the resources necessary for investigating and prosecuting drug traffickers across our rural and urban communities."

This sentencing marks the final defendant brought to justice in an eleven-person drug trafficking network dismantled through a years-long investigation. Flakes's involvement came to light during a traffic stop on August 16, 2024, near the Louisiana-Texas state line. Louisiana State Police (LSP) attempted to pull over a vehicle driven by co-conspirator Daniel Efferson. Efferson, Flakes, and co-conspirator Perry Willis fled the scene. This led to a vehicle chase that ended in a crash. Officers recovered approximately nine kilograms of methamphetamine and twenty-four pounds of synthetic marijuana from the vehicle. This incident was the primary catalyst for a broader federal investigation.

Subsequent investigations in Houston uncovered the massive scale of the trafficking network: agents seized 221.5 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine disguised as bottled water and located a meth conversion lab equipped with burners, pots, and an additional 11 kilograms of processed methamphetamine. Evidence recovered connected Flakes to the same distribution pipeline supplying Willis, Efferson, and eight other members of the conspiracy.

With Flakes sentenced, all eleven defendants have been held accountable. Previously sentenced co-conspirators are as follows:

Daniel Efferson, of Natchitoches - 360 months (30 years)
Christopher Caffey, of Shreveport - 262 months (over 21 years)
Joshua Hardy, of Shreveport - 151 months (over 12 years)
Delannie Lee, of Shreveport - 168 months (14 years)
Crystal Williams, of Mansfield - 60 months (5 years)
Kellie Yates, of Shreveport - 3 years' probation
Amadeo Penaloza-Meza, of Mexico - 135 months (over 11 years)
Brayan Sandoval, of Mexico - 135 months (over 11 years)
Jeffrey Flack, of Shreveport - 120 months (10 years)
Perry Willis, of Natchitoches - 292 months (over 24 years)

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

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Mexican cartels continue to flood the United States with high purity, highly potent methamphetamine. In Louisiana, officials warn that meth remains a serious statewide threat: stimulant related overdose deaths still account for 26.5% of all drug involved fatalities and rural communities have seen rising mortality as meth supplies are increasingly laced with deadly fentanyl.

LSP and DEA investigated the case. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorneys Robert Moody and Earl M. Campbell with assistance from Legal Assistants Amanda Morgan and Stephanie Stewart.

A copy of this press release (and future updates) can be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.

Related court documents and information may be found on the District Court's website at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer under Case Number 5:24-CR-00256-10.

###

CONTACT:
Public Affairs: [email protected]
United States Attorney's Office: www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
X: @USAO_WDLA
Facebook: USAO_WDLA
(337) 262-6704