United States v. Jarrell M. Palmer

Shreveport, Louisiana criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl

Jonesboro Man Sentenced for Possession of Fentanyl

Jarrell M. Palmer, 44, of Jonesboro, Louisiana, was sentenced today for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced Palmer to 188 months (15 years, 8 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.



In April 2023, agents with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted a suspicious package mailed from California to an address in Jonesboro. Agents exposed the package to an open air examination by a narcotic detecting K-9 who alerted to the presence of the odor of narcotics coming from inside the box. A warrant was obtained, and agents found several jigsaw puzzle boxes inside, one which contained Ziplock-style bags wrapped in plastic wrap and carbon paper. Inside those bags were more than 5,000 pills suspected to be fake oxycodone tablets. Subsequent chemical analysis determined that the pills comprised a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and weighed approximately 552.5 grams.



Law enforcement agents repackaged the box and conducted a controlled delivery of the package to the front door of the Jonesboro address. Agents observed the defendant's mother retrieve the package from the front doorstep and take it inside the residence. Shortly thereafter, agents were alerted by way of sensors installed on the package that it had been opened and they converged on the home to execute the search warrant. Agents found Palmer standing outside of the home and arrested him. Palmer had residue on his hands from spray that was added to the package by law enforcement agents. Inside the home was the suspicious package containing the jigsaw puzzle boxes with the fentanyl, as well as marijuana and a digital scale. Palmer admitted that the suspicious package was his and that he sold the pills to other individuals. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on December 12, 2023.



The case was investigated by U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Jackson Parish Sheriff's Office and Metro Narcotics Unit in Monroe, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mike Shannon.