Moss Point Man Sentenced to Over Ten Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

Gulfport, MS – Dale Ricardo Easterling, 43, of Moss Point, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to 128 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Easterling was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.

On July 13, 2018, a Louisiana State Trooper stopped a car driven by Easterling traveling east bound on Interstate 10. The trooper observed nervous behavior by Easterling. He searched the car and found a hidden compartment with seven kilograms of cocaine. Easterling admitted that he was taking the cocaine back to Moss Point for further distribution. He further admitted that he had previously trafficked cocaine to Jackson County.

On the same date, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force executed a search warrant at Easterling’s home. They found various rounds of ammunition, over 500 grams of marijuana brownies, 1.5 kilograms of marijuana, 833 grams of Fentanyl, 5 grams of heroin, and 99 pills that looked like oxycodone. The suspected oxycodone pills were sent to the Mississippi Crime Laboratory and found to contain fentanyl and acetaminophen.

The case was investigated by FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team, and the Louisiana State Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk.