SHREVEPORT, La. – Thomas Shane Benefield, 46, of Bossier City, was sentenced to 168 months (14 years) in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. handed down the sentence, which includes 5 years of supervised release.
Benefield was part of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Shreveport/Bossier City area. Law enforcement agents began investigating Benefield and his co-conspirators in early 2020, discovering they were traveling to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area to purchase large quantities of methamphetamine. On June 12, 2020, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop on Benefield, finding two firearms, 30.2 grams of methamphetamine, and a scale in the vehicle.
Benefield admitted to helping his co-conspirators distribute methamphetamine and collecting money from buyers. He also purchased methamphetamine to sell personally. Benefield has previous felony convictions for manufacturing methamphetamine (2002) and possession with intent to distribute Schedule I (2009). The FBI, ATF, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation, which targets high-level drug traffickers using a multi-agency approach.
Separately, Antravion D. Johnson, 24, of Shreveport, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Johnson pleaded guilty to the charge on May 5, 2021, after a loaded Glock pistol was found in his residence during a search warrant execution. Johnson also admitted to possessing a loaded Micro Draco pistol in a vehicle outside the apartment. Johnson has a lengthy criminal history, including aggravated assault with a firearm (2016), felony theft (2015), and felon in possession of a firearm (2017). The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moody prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime by bringing together law enforcement and the community.
Benefield and Johnson are now facing time behind bars for their crimes. Benefield’s 14-year sentence comes as a result of his involvement in meth trafficking, while Johnson’s 10-year sentence is due to his possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.
Residents are breathing a sigh of relief with these convictions, knowing that the streets are safer thanks to the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors.
The community is grateful for the hard work and dedication of those involved in these cases, and we will continue to follow the progress of these cases as they unfold.
Stay tuned for more updates on these and other cases in the future.
Related Federal Cases
- Louisiana Man Gets Life for Orange Co. Meth Conspiracy · Louisiana
- Nederland Meth Kingpin Gets Life Behind Bars · Louisiana
- Meth King Abelardo Gets 18+ Years · Louisiana
- Silsbee Man Gets 20-Year Sentence for Meth Ring · Louisiana
- Helton Gets 6.5 Years for Meth Ingredient Run · Louisiana
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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