A Lafayette Parish man has entered a guilty plea for federal offenses that included drug trafficking and firearm violations. According to information from the U.S. Department of Justice, 54-year-old Terry Reed admitted to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and firearm charges in a federal courtroom.
Reed is staring down a sentence that could range from a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life for his drug-related offense. For his firearm possession and furthering a drug trafficking crime, he also faces substantial incarceration time, with the potential for additional consecutive prison terms. This would complement hefty fines and supervised release. The court documents revealed that in early February, Reed was caught with 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and illegally possessed a Ruger Model LC9, nine-millimeter pistol, despite a prior felony conviction barring him from firearm ownership.
The case against Reed is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the government's initiative to curb violent crime and gun violence with a collaborative effort between law enforcement and community groups. PSN focuses on building community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, targeted enforcement, and assessing the impact of these efforts.
This investigation and subsequent prosecution, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, was managed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Sarver of the Narcotics Unit. With his guilty plea, Reed accepts his role in the infractions and awaits sentencing. "This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone," as stated in the press release.
