Acting United States Attorney Alexander C.Van Hook announced the
sentencing of several individuals involved in related Organized Crime Drug
Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) cases concerning controlled substances
trafficking. James cordell Zeno, 37, of Jennings,
Blaze Duhon, 27, of kinder, Jamarcus Jamall Epps,
31, of Many, and James Spikes, 28, of Zwolle, were all
sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. Another
defendant,Desmond antoine Jackson,40,of Zwolle,has
pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

Zeno received a sentence of 282 months (23 years,6 months)
in prison,while Duhon was sentenced to 120 months (10
years) for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Court facts
revealed that in July 2022, the United States Postal Inspector
intercepted a suspicious package addressed to Duhon’s
residence. A search warrant was obtained, leading to the finding of
suspected methamphetamine. The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office then secured
a search warrant for the residence, where Duhon was found.Subsequent to the search warrant, the United States Postal Inspector
intercepted a second suspicious package destined for
Duhon’s residence, which also contained suspected
methamphetamine. Phone records revealed text messages between
Duhon and Zeno, including photos of United
States postal Service receipts with tracking information matching the
intercepted methamphetamine packages.

The suspected methamphetamine from both packages, totaling 280 grams,
tested positive at the crime laboratory. Zeno and
Duhon were indicted and later pleaded guilty.

Additional Charges and Sentences

“OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug
traffickers…that threaten the United States”

Jamarcus jamall Epps and Desmond Antoine Jackson
were also charged following an investigation into drug trafficking in the
sabine Parish area. In December 2021, the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office
Tactical Narcotics Team conducted a controlled purchase of a Taurus PT738
.380 caliber pistol from Epps. Law enforcement captured
audio/video of the transaction. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives (“ATF”) confirmed that the firearm sold by
Epps was functional. At the time of the sale,
Epps, a convicted felon with a prior conviction of
aggravated second degree battery in 2019, was prohibited from possessing
firearms or ammunition. Epps pleaded guilty and received a
77-month (6 years, 5 months) prison sentence for possession of a firearm
by a convicted felon.

Approximately one month later, law enforcement agents conducted a
controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Jackson, which
was also recorded. The substance was analyzed and found to be at least 50
grams of pure methamphetamine. Jackson pleaded guilty to
distribution of methamphetamine in February 2025 and is awaiting
sentencing.

James Spikes was also implicated in methamphetamine
trafficking in Sabine Parish. In august 2022, a controlled purchase from
Spikes was recorded as part of the investigation. The
purchased substance was confirmed to be approximately 62 grams of pure
methamphetamine. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute
methamphetamine and was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, ATF,
and Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated these cases, with
prosecution led by Assistant United States attorney Jessica D. Cassidy.These cases were part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force
(OCDETF) investigation, which aims to identify, disrupt, and dismantle
high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational
criminal organizations threatening the United States through a
prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.