Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine and Crack Conspiracy

Jackson, Miss. – L.C. Hatfield, Jr., 43, of Jackson, pled guilty today before Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to his role in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 280 grams of cocaine base ("crack") and more than 500 grams of a detectible amount of cocaine hydrochloride, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Assistant Special Agent in Charge J. Derryle Smith.

In October and November 2015, Hatfield was responsible for distributing cocaine and crack to individuals out of a residence located in Jackson. The case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed "Rock Bottom", which began as an operation targeting illegal narcotics distribution in central Mississippi that involved the distribution of cocaine, crack and methamphetamine.

Hatfield will be sentenced by Judge Jordan on October 26, 2018 at 9:00 a.m., and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives with assistance from: Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, Ridgeland Police Department, Jackson Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Brandon Police Department, Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi Department of Corrections, Pearl Police Department, Flowood Police Department, Customs and Border Patrol, and the DEA Houston Field Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Wansley.