LAFAYETTE, Louisiana – A Lafayette couple is off the streets after a lengthy federal investigation and subsequent guilty pleas. Brian Broussard, 34, and Shalla Adams, 35, both of Lafayette, received significant prison sentences this week for their roles in a drug and firearms operation that plagued the area. The case, spearheaded by a multi-agency task force, highlights the escalating dangers of fentanyl and the illegal modification of weapons.
U.S. District Judge David C. Joseph handed down a harsh 162-month sentence to Broussard, followed by 5 years of supervised release. He was convicted of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, specifically fentanyl – a synthetic opioid responsible for a surge in overdose deaths nationwide. Adams received a 24-month sentence, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of an unregistered silencer, a device that muffles the sound of a firearm.
The investigation began with intelligence gathered on drug trafficking activities in the Lafayette area. On May 12, 2021, agents from the DEA, FBI, ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Combined Anti-Drug Task Force and Lafayette Police Department executed search warrants on properties linked to Broussard and Adams. The searches uncovered a disturbing arsenal: a Romarm AK-47 style semi-automatic rifle, a Glock 9mm pistol, a Taurus pistol, and a silencer. Also seized was a quantity of fentanyl and paraphernalia indicative of large-scale drug distribution.
The evidence against Broussard deepened when he was stopped by law enforcement shortly after leaving one of the searched residences. A Glock pistol was found in his vehicle, but it wasn’t the weapon itself that drew particular attention. The firearm had been illegally modified with a mechanical switch, converting it into a fully automatic machine gun – a serious federal offense. He pleaded guilty on November 21, 2022. Agents found a Glock 9mm pistol with two fully loaded magazines at Adams’ residence. The silencer found there hadn’t been registered, as required by the National Firearms Act.
Adams entered a guilty plea on November 10, 2022. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen, who argued for significant penalties given the severity of the crimes and the danger posed by the illegal drugs and weapons. The combined sentences send a clear message that those involved in trafficking deadly substances and modifying firearms will face serious consequences.
While the sentences offer a degree of closure, law enforcement officials acknowledge the ongoing struggle against fentanyl and illegal firearms. The investigation serves as a stark reminder of the collaborative effort required to combat these threats and protect communities from the devastating impact of drug trafficking and gun violence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana continues to prioritize these cases, working alongside federal, state, and local partners to dismantle criminal organizations and bring perpetrators to justice.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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