SHREVEPORT, La. – Ronnie K. Hongo, Jr., 43, of Many, Louisiana, is headed to federal prison for 15 years after pleading guilty to trafficking methamphetamine and carrying a firearm during the commission of that crime. U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. handed down the 180-month sentence yesterday, followed by five years of supervised release. The bust originated with a tip about Hongo peddling the highly addictive drug in Sabine Parish.
The case began to unfold on March 19, 2021, when the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, acting on credible information, raided Hongo’s residence in Many. Inside, deputies discovered a significant stash: 369 grams of methamphetamine. Alongside the drugs, law enforcement also recovered a loaded .45 caliber pistol. Hongo was present during the search and quickly confessed to possessing both the narcotics and the weapon.
The investigation didn’t stop there. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) dug deeper, tracing the firearm and confirming it had crossed state lines – meaning it had traveled in interstate commerce. The gun was also confirmed to be in working order, a critical element in the sentencing guidelines. This interstate connection elevated the severity of the charges against Hongo.
Hongo ultimately pleaded guilty on October 5, 2022, to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of carrying and using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. The guilty plea bypassed a potentially lengthy and costly trial, but did little to lessen the impact of his actions.
Federal prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon H. Whitten, successfully argued for the maximum sentence, emphasizing the danger posed by Hongo’s combined drug dealing and illegal firearm possession. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, under Brandon B. Brown, made it clear that those who profit from poisoning communities and arm themselves in the process will face serious consequences.
The investigation was a collaborative effort, bringing together the resources of the FBI, ATF, and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office. The combined manpower and expertise of these agencies were crucial in securing the conviction and removing a dangerous drug dealer from the streets of Louisiana. Hongo will serve his sentence in a federal correctional facility yet to be determined.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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