NEW ORLEANS, LA – Steven Lyons, a 40-year-old resident of Metairie, Louisiana, admitted today to his central role in a large-scale methamphetamine distribution network that flooded the New Orleans area with the deadly drug. Lyons pled guilty before a federal judge, acknowledging responsibility for trafficking between 15 and 45 kilograms of methamphetamine as part of a wider conspiracy.
The bust, announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans, reveals a sophisticated operation dating back to 2016. Lyons wasn’t a street-level dealer; court documents paint him as a key link, receiving significant shipments of methamphetamine from out-of-state suppliers. These weren’t back-alley deals. The cartel-like ring utilized the U.S. Postal Service, Greyhound Package Express, and other commercial carriers to move their poison into the city.
Lyons’s network wasn’t operating in a vacuum. He allegedly worked with codefendants Trung Pham, Carlos Mario Cantu-Cox, and Christopher Cantu-Cox to facilitate the flow of drugs. These individuals, identified as sources of Lyons’s supply, are now facing their own legal battles, with a trial scheduled for June 5, 2017. The investigation suggests a well-organized operation designed to maximize profit and minimize risk.
The penalties facing Lyons are severe. He’s staring down a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, with the potential for life imprisonment. Beyond the loss of freedom, Lyons could also be forced to pay a staggering fine of up to $20,000,000 and face at least ten years of supervised release after serving his time. U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle has scheduled Lyons’s sentencing hearing for June 21, 2017.
Federal investigators from multiple agencies brought the operation down. The United States Postal Inspection Service, Louisiana State Police, DEA New Orleans Division Office, and the New Orleans Police Department all contributed to the probe. The collaborative effort highlights the commitment of law enforcement to dismantle these drug trafficking organizations and stem the tide of methamphetamine into Louisiana communities.
Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Long is leading the prosecution, determined to hold Lyons and his associates accountable for their crimes. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by methamphetamine and the relentless efforts of federal authorities to combat drug trafficking in the New Orleans area. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as they become available.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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