DONALDSONVILLE — Six people were sentenced after federal agents busted a drug trafficking operation in Ascension Parish in 2024. 

The six Donaldsonville residents engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy where cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, oxycodone and heroin were distributed according to admissions made during pleas.

During the investigation, agents seized over 443 grams of substances containing fentanyl and 68 grams of cocaine, along with multiple firearms. 

All six individuals were sentenced to serve time in prison on various drug and gun charges. 

Leroy Miles, 47, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison along with four years of supervised release. 

James Miles, 49, was sentenced to 258 months in prison with three years of supervised release.

Joseph Brown, 39, was sentenced to 92 months with four years of supervised release.

Marishell Ealem, 40, was sentenced to 80 months in prison with three years of supervised release.

Corey Powe, 57, was sentenced to 60 months in prison with three years of supervised release.

Destiny Renee McBride, 35, was sentenced to 18 months with an additional three years of supervised release.

“Armed drug trafficking poses an immediate, dangerous threat to public safety,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Keith Bakewell. “By leveraging the full strength of the Homeland Security Task Force and our local law enforcement partners, we systemically dismantled a Donaldsonville drug organization, stripping them of illegally possessed rifles, handguns, and lethal doses of fentanyl.”