Drug Trafficking Sends Lafayette Man to Federal Prison

 LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Paul Bernard, a/k/a “PJ,” 21, of Lafayette, Louisiana, was sentenced today by Judge Robert R. Summerhays. Bernard was sentenced to 42 months (3 years, 6 months) in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.           

Bernard pled guilty on December 10, 2019. Evidence introduced in court revealed that from January through June 2019, Bernard purchased methamphetamine from a co-defendant in this case approximately once per week, with each transaction involving quantities of one ounce to one pound. He would then sell the methamphetamine for profit.

This prosecution is part of a larger investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration through its Southwest Louisiana HIDTA Task Force and Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces. The Louisiana State Police Narcotics Division initiated the investigation, and Special Agents with DEA, as well as Task Force Officers assigned to the Southwest Louisiana HIDTA Task Force, completed the investigation. In addition to the above conviction and sentence, the investigation resulted in the dismantling of a drug trafficking organization in Ville Platte, Louisiana. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth prosecuted the case.