Three individuals from Shreveport have been sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy that resulted in the death of a local man. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote handed down the sentences.
Martin William Thompson, aged 53, received a 20-year prison sentence followed by five years of supervised release. Rachel Ann Hassell, aged 47, and Courtney Renee Cox, aged 41, were each sentenced to over ten years in prison with an additional five years of supervised release.
Thompson and Cox are also required to pay $13,234.73 in restitution to the family of the deceased victim.
The three defendants faced charges related to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and serious bodily injury, possession with intent to distribute heroin, using or maintaining drug premises, and possession of firearms for drug trafficking purposes. These charges stemmed from an indictment issued in April 2022.
In 2021, federal agents initiated an investigation into illegal drug distribution activities in Shreveport after receiving information about fentanyl and other drugs being circulated in the area. The investigation revealed that Thompson was purchasing large quantities of fentanyl pills destined for distribution.
On May 29, 2021, officers responded to a car crash where they found the driver unconscious due to a fentanyl overdose. Further investigations linked Courtney Cox as the supplier who had obtained the drugs from Thompson.
Rachel Hassell was arrested later that year with heroin intended for distribution. A search uncovered more drugs at Thompson's business premises. Investigations showed that Hassell and Thompson were working together to distribute various drugs including fentanyl.
“This is the first distribution of fentanyl resulting in death conviction obtained in the Western District of Louisiana,” stated U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “Fentanyl is a very dangerous drug and just a few grains of the substance can have deadly consequences which is unfortunately what happened in this case."
The case was investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert F. Moody.