LAKE CHARLES, La. (KLFY) -- Two Lake Charles men were sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing firearms and drugs in unrelated cases, authorities said.
Johnathan C. Norwood, 42, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Cohaynee D. Jones, 28, was sentenced to 6 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to prosecutors, a traffic stop was conducted April 3, 2023 on the vehicle being driven by Norwood in order to arrest him on an active arrest warrant. During the traffic stop, agents searched Norwood’s vehicle and found approximately 29.21 grams of cocaine and over $3,000 in cash inside.
A subsequent search warrant was obtained for his residence, where officers found and seized four firearms and ammunition, approximately 6,535.3 grams of cocaine, 128,923.95 grams of marijuana, over 50 pill tablets containing hydrocodone and over $80,000 in cash. Agents said two of the seized firearms had been reported stolen.
Agents with the Combined Anti-Drug Task Force in Calcasieu Parish executed four arrest warrants for Jones at his residence on 10th Street in Lake Charles April 20, 2022. Officers found Jones asleep on the couch with a rifle on the headrest where he was laying, and he was arrested. Officers found two additional firearms on the couch where Norwood was laying, with one having been reported as stolen, authorities said.
Jones has a previous felony conviction for aggravated battery from 2020 and was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
In addition, officers searching a rental vehicle in Jones’ driveway found a backpack containing several Ziploc bags with a substance that appeared to be narcotics, which was confirmed to weigh approximately 57 grams and contain a detectable amount of fentanyl.
Both men were sentenced by United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr.
