In Lafayette Parish, Terry Reed, 54, has been sentenced to 180 months in prison, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. Reed’s sentencing on Tuesday follows his guilty plea to charges of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He will also serve five years of supervised release and is required to pay a $300 mandatory special assessment fee. The announcement was made in a statement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Reed’s hearing before United States District Judge Brandon S. Long was the concluding act to a legal drama that began with his intentional possession of fifty grams or more of methamphetamine on or about February 3, 2024. In spite of his status as a convicted felon, Reed was also found to unlawfully possess a Ruger Model LC9, nine-millimeter pistol, which he then used to further compound his crimes by engaging it to advance his drug trafficking operations. These details emerged in court documents cited by law enforcement officials.
The influence of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) was also cited in the case’s successful prosecution. PSN is a collaborative initiative aimed to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and ultimately, to create safer communities across various neighborhoods. Launched on May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice’s strategy includes fostering trust between communities and law enforcement, backing community organizations in preventing violence, focusing on strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes for effectiveness. In the words of the Department of Justice, this approach has bolstered the foundation of PSN by adhering to its core principles…