Moss Point Man Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years in Federal Prison for Cocaine Conspiracy

Gulfport, Miss. – Keith Lavell Brown, 46, of Moss Point, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to 235 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Derryle Smith, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze. Brown was also ordered to pay a $35,000 fine.

During his plea on August 15, 2018, Brown admitted to being involved in a conspiracy to bring cocaine to the Mississippi Gulf Coast starting in 2015 until August 2017. On one occasion, in March 2016, Brown’s cousin was stopped in Louisiana and, upon his arrest, Louisiana State Police located 15 kilograms of cocaine inside his vehicle. During the DEA and FBI’s investigation, they determined that Brown had conspired with his cousins and others to have the cocaine brought from Texas to Mississippi. Brown and another individual with Mexican cartel connections actually followed his cousin’s vehicle prior to it being stopped.

After the stop in Louisiana, another individual was stopped in Mississippi driving an RV. During the stop, the RV was searched and law enforcement located 11 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside. During the investigation into the stop of the RV, DEA and FBI agents learned that the kilograms of cocaine were supposed to be delivered to Brown and others in Moss Point. Further information and evidence also showed that the cocaine located in the RV was not the driver’s first time to deliver cocaine to Brown. The driver had previously had a successful delivery of 13 kilograms of cocaine to Brown.

In total, the Court held Brown accountable for 49 kilograms of cocaine during the period of the conspiracy.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk.