Lionel Somersall, Meth & Firearm, Many LA, 2024
MANY, Louisiana – Lionel George Somersall, Jr., 45, of Many, Louisiana, is headed to federal prison for over 16 years after being convicted of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and illegally possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. handed down the 195-month (16 years, three months) sentence, followed by five years of supervised release.
The bust went down September 13, 2021, when a Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy spotted a vehicle with no valid license plate. Somersall was behind the wheel, and a check revealed he didn’t have a driver’s license either. A K9 unit quickly alerted deputies to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. The search turned up a Charter Arms .38 Special revolver. Both Somersall and his passenger were already convicted felons, making firearm possession illegal for them. The gun, it turned out, had been reported stolen.
The investigation didn’t stop with the traffic stop. Somersall’s passenger reportedly told another individual that she’d tossed a bag of drugs out the window before they were pulled over. A search of the roadside turned up that bag, containing 170 grams of methamphetamine and ammunition, along with receipts linked directly to Somersall. It wasn’t just the drugs; investigators also dug into Somersall’s phone records, uncovering text messages detailing the distribution of methamphetamine.
Somersall ultimately admitted to possessing the firearm found in the vehicle. The case was a joint effort between the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moody prosecuted the case, building a solid case against Somersall based on the physical evidence, witness statements, and digital forensics.
Federal authorities are framing Somersall’s conviction as part of a larger push against organized crime. The investigation fell under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), a multi-agency operation designed to dismantle high-level drug trafficking organizations. OCDETF uses a coordinated, intelligence-driven approach, leveraging the resources of federal, state, and local law enforcement to target criminal networks.
Somersall’s lengthy sentence sends a clear message: bringing drugs and illegal firearms into Louisiana communities will be met with a swift and severe response from federal law enforcement. The case highlights the ongoing battle against methamphetamine trafficking and the dangers posed by individuals who disregard the law and endanger public safety. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Brandon B. Brown, continues to prioritize these types of investigations.
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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