A federal grand jury indicted Nicky Parfait, age 37, of Houma, Louisiana, on July 16 for violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act and the Federal Gun Control Act, according to a July 21 announcement by United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Court documents state that Parfait was charged with possession with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine and forty grams or more of fentanyl. He was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
If convicted on the possession with intent to distribute count, Parfait faces a minimum term of ten years imprisonment and up to life in prison, along with fines up to $10 million and at least five years supervised release. The felon in possession charge carries a minimum fifteen-year sentence up to life imprisonment. The charge for possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime carries an additional minimum five-year sentence that must run consecutively to any other imposed sentence.
United States Attorney Courcelle said, “the indictment is merely a charging document, and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney André Jones is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, which utilizes Department of Justice resources against illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations. Project Safe Neighborhoods is also involved as part of efforts bringing together law enforcement partners at all levels to address violent crime.