Gulfport, Miss. - Jaycie Mario Thomas, 35, of Forest, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Derryle Smith with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
On March 3, 2016, an officer with the Louisiana State Police stopped Thomas for a traffic violation. During the stop, the officer learned that a gun in Thomas’s possession was stolen. The officer arrested Thomas, and upon inventorying his car, the officer located 15 kilograms of cocaine in the trunk. During the subsequent investigation by the DEA, it was revealed that Thomas was trafficking the cocaine to Jackson County, Mississippi, for his relative, Keith Brown, who was following in another car behind Thomas.
Brown pled guilty last Wednesday before Judge Guirola to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine. In addition to the cocaine found in Thomas’ car, Brown admitted to conspiring with others to have over 30 kilograms of cocaine brought to the Mississippi Gulf Coast from Texas. He will be sentenced on November 7, 2018 and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine.
Thomas will be sentenced on Nov. 12, 2018, by Judge Guirola, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Louisiana State Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
