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Oakland Man Found Guilty of Methamphetamine Conspiracy
A 30-year-old Oakland man has been found guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and money laundering after a three and a half day jury trial, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and HSI Special Agent in Charge Jere T. Miles and DEA Special Agent in Charge Derryle Smith. Michael Maes will face a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine when he is sentenced on December 13, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Halil Sul Ozerden.
Between June 2016 and February 2017, Maes was sending packages of methamphetamine to addresses in Slidell, Louisiana for distribution in the Southern District of Mississippi. The individuals distributing that methamphetamine would then deposit proceeds from those sales into Wells Fargo accounts in Biloxi and Gulfport at Maes’s direction.
All of the individuals distributing methamphetamine on the Mississippi Coast had previously pled guilty to their activities. The jury, after several hours of deliberation, found him guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, attempt to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit money laundering and five specific acts of money laundering. He was acquitted of one specific act of money laundering.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Meynardie and Kathlyn Van Buskirk.
Maes’s conviction is a significant blow to the methamphetamine trafficking ring that operated on the Mississippi Coast. The guilty verdict serves as a warning to those who engage in similar activities that they will be held accountable for their crimes.
The Southern District of Mississippi has seen a significant decrease in methamphetamine-related crimes since the start of the investigation. The success of this case is a testament to the hard work and dedication of law enforcement agencies in the region.
The public’s assistance was crucial in bringing this case to a successful conclusion. If you have any information regarding methamphetamine trafficking or other crimes, please contact the authorities immediately.
Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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