Jackson, Miss. – A Byram man was sentenced to 115 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Dave Venard Thompson, 41, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
The case is the result of an extensive investigation targeting illegal narcotics distribution in central Mississippi that involved the distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana and cocaine. On March 9, 2018, the FBI learned that two men from California driving a black Dodge Ram truck were in the tri-county area of Hinds, Madison and Rankin Counties of Central Mississippi to pick up narcotics. Agents placed the truck under surveillance and saw an occupant of the truck deliver a package to the Post Office in Jackson. On March 12, 2018, local law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the truck and found $19,770 in cash hidden in the truck. The postal package that was seized by the Postal Inspector contained almost 1 kilogram of heroin and 1 kilogram of fentanyl.
Thompson was indicted by a federal grand jury and subsequently pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed “Fire and Ice,” which began as an operation targeting illegal drug trafficking in the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area. “Fire and Ice” is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Madison County Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.