U.S. Department
of Justice
Last defendant in Acadiana methamphetamine distribution conspiracy sentenced
LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that the last defendant was sentenced Monday in an Acadiana methamphetamine conspiracy.
Elton J. Scoggin, 36, of Breaux Bridge, La., and 10 other defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine in Lafayette and the surrounding areas from April 2015 until December 2015. Co-defendants Jeremy David Hamlett, 38, of Arnaudville, La., and Lovelace Louis Comeaux, 54, of Carencro, La., were the primary suppliers of the methamphetamine. Scoggin, the remaining defendant, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter, to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
In addition to Scoggin, Hamlett and Lovelace Comeaux, eight other defendants were indicted. They are: Darrell James Serrette II, 34, Jade Dupuis, 30, Jared J. Dupuis, 39, John S. Stutes, 45, and Travis Joseph Thibodeaux, 35, all of Breaux Bridge; Kevin Comeaux, 55, of Milton, La.; Matthew James Hebert, 43, of New Iberia, La.; and Ronnie J. Touchet, 36, of Carencro. These defendants previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced as shown below:
| Defendants | Prison term | Probation | Supervised release | Counts* | Date |
| Lovelace Comeaux | 120 months | 5 years | 1, 6 | June 9, 2016 | |
| Touchet | 60 months | 3 years | 1 | Oct. 20, 2016 | |
| Hamlett | 120 months | 5 years | 1 | Oct. 21, 2016 | |
| Kevin Comeaux | 63 months | 3 years | 1 | Oct. 21, 2016 | |
| Serrette | 36 months | 3 years | 1 | Jan. 12, 2017 | |
| Jared Dupuis | 30 months | 3 years | 1 | Jan. 12, 2017 | |
| Stutes | 24 months | 3 years | 1 | Jan. 12, 2017 | |
| Hebert | 37 months | 3 years | 1 | Jan. 12, 2017 | |
| Jade Dupuis | 12 months | 3 years | 2 | Feb. 13, 2017 | |
| Thibodeaux | 5 years | 1 | Feb. 13, 2017 |
*Count 1 is conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Count 2 is distribution of methamphetamine, and Count 6 is use of a communication facility in causing or facilitating a drug trafficking crime.
According to Scoggin’s August, 24, 2016 guilty plea, he was recorded, along with Hamlett and the other co-conspirators, planning the distribution of methamphetamine and receipt of funds made from the sale of the drugs. Scoggin and others admitted that the methamphetamine received from Hamlett was of high quality and purity. Scoggin conspired with the other defendants to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine during the course of the conspiracy. The overall conspiracy involved the distribution of more than 15 kilograms of methamphetamine to the Acadiana area of Louisiana, which the group received and transported from Texas.
The DEA (Lafayette Task Force), Louisiana State Police and Lafayette Metro Narcotics (LMN) conducted the investigation. ATF, FBI, DEA Task Force, St. Martin Parish Sherriff’s Office, and LMN assisted in the apprehension of the individuals named in the indictment. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Myers P. Namie and Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.