Three Kemper County residents have been found guilty of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Cordaryl Ford, 36, of Porterville was charged with the federal indictment along with Dekalb natives Donovan Sherill Bourrage, 45, and Orlando Bourrage, 48.
According to court documents, Donovan Bourrage, Orlando Bourrage, and Ford conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in and around the Kemper County area in May 2020.
On May 28, 2020, agents intercepted a package shipped from California to Mississippi destined for delivery to Ford, who had previously agreed to sell methamphetamine to both Donovan and Orlando Bourrage.
The package contained marijuana, cocaine, and approximately nine pounds of methamphetamine.
Less than two months later, Donovan Bourrage reached out to a known narcotics trafficker in federal custody at the Stone County Detention Center in Wiggins in an effort to obtain methamphetamine after the previously anticipated delivery was unsuccessful.
The detainee then elicited the help of his cousin, who ultimately met Donovan Bourrage to deliver the negotiated pound of methamphetamine.
Donovan Bourrage later met the detainee’s cousin again to obtain an additional half-pound of methamphetamine.
Since then, Donovan Bourrage has also been charged with an additional count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine for his actions on a separate occasion.
Ford entered a plea of guilty to his charge on the first day of trial in the U.S. District Court in Jackson, while Donovan and Orlando Bourrage were later found guilty on May 26 for each count after a week-long trial.
Ford is set to be sentenced on August 28, while both Donovan and Orlando Bourrage are expected to be sentenced on September 5. Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“HSI will continue to direct its full range of investigative authorities toward those who smuggle deadly drugs into our communities,” HSI New Orleans acting Special Agent in Charge Eric Delaune said. “This verdict demonstrates the resolve of HSI and all our law enforcement partners to hold those who traffic in drugs accountable for their actions.”
