LAKE CHARLES, La. - United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that a Lake Charles woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to her role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy.
Sandra Lynette Smith, 48, of Lake Charles, entered a conditional guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, law enforcement agents identified Smith and Chumphai Bob Mireles as traffickers of methamphetamine. Smith told a cooperating witness that Mireles was going to make a purchase in July of 2014. Law enforcement agents followed Mireles to Houston where he bought methamphetamine from Michael Wayne Giese. Agents arrested Mireles as he traveled back to Louisiana. Smith was questioned and said that Mireles would meet Giese once or twice a week to make purchases, and they would sell the drugs after he returned.
Smith face up to 20 years in prison, three years supervised release, and a $1 million fine. A sentencing date of Oct. 19, 2015 was set. The trial for Mireles and Giese is set to start June 15, 2015.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Calcasieu Parish Combined Anti-Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
