Jackson, Miss. - Lester Singleton, 35, of Jackson, was sentenced today by U.S. District Chief Judge Daniel P. Jordan III, to 108 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in importing the controlled substance 5-Fluoro-PB-22, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Thomas M. Annello, Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.
On April 19, 2015, agents with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics went to a residence in Jackson after a package was intercepted inbound from China. Agents arrived at the apartment and encountered Singleton and his wife, Latoya Emmons. The agents discovered a white powdery substance on the surfaces of the apartment and that the apartment was being used as a clandestine laboratory to manufacture spice. Agents recovered substances to manufacture spice, including, 5-Fluoro-PB-22, acetone, numerous other liquids, packets for distribution, sprayers, fans and several firearms.
Singleton and Emmons were charged in a multi-count federal indictment on December 7, 2016. Singleton pled guilty on Oct. 19, 2017, to importation of a controlled substance. Emmons pled guilty on Dec. 12, 2017, to possession with intent to distribute 5-Fluoro-PB-22. Emmons was sentenced on March 12, 2018, to 100 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
This case was a joint investigation by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi State Crime Laboratory, the Jackson Police Department, the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department, the Jackson Fire Department and American Medical Response. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Chalk.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
