May 22, 2014

Lafayette Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute Charge

LAKE CHARLES, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Calvin James Catalon Jr., 35, of Lafayette, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi to charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, a Lake Charles police officer stopped the defendant’s vehicle for a traffic violation on January 17, 2014, on I-10. After questioning Catalon, the officer conducted a search of the vehicle. A bag containing white powder was found. The powder was tested at a Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory in Dallas and was identified as cocaine with a net weight of approximately 991.8 grams.

Catalon faces five to 40 years in prison, four years of supervised release, and a $5 million fine for one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. A sentencing date of August 28, 2014 was set.

The FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Lake Charles Police Department, and the Calcasieu Anti-drug Team conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel is prosecuting the case.