Bay St. Louis Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

Gulfport, Miss – Rico Laneaux, 38, of Bay St. Louis, was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to serve 96 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  Judge Guirola also ordered Laneaux to pay a $15,000 fine. 

On February 8, 2018, Bay St. Louis Police Department officers and DEA agents responded to the Hollywood Casino Hotel in Bay St. Louis regarding a narcotics complaint.  A casino staff member located a large amount of suspected methamphetamine in the safe of a hotel room rented by Laneaux.  Laneaux was held by casino security in the lobby of the casino prior to the arrival of law enforcement officers, but he fled from security and left the property before officers arrived.  The suspected methamphetamine and a scale were found in Laneaux’s hotel room safe.  The DEA crime lab determined that the methamphetamine weighed 26.78 grams and was 95% pure.   

Laneaux pled guilty before Judge Guirola on September 3, 2019.

The case was investigated by the DEA and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shundral H. Cole.