Jackson Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Cocaine and Crack Conspiracy

Jackson, Miss. – L.C. Hatfield, Jr., 43, of Jackson, was sentenced Friday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III, to 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine base ("crack") and cocaine hydrochloride ("powder"), announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Derryle Smith with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Hatfield pled guilty before Judge Jordan on August 1, 2018.

This case is the result of an extensive Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, dubbed "Rock Bottom," which began as an operation targeting illegal narcotics distribution in the central Mississippi area. During the investigation, agents found Hatfield was distributing large quantities of cocaine and crack to individuals in Jackson. Based on his role in the conspiracy, Hatfield was held responsible for as much as 3 kilograms of cocaine powder and 6 kilograms of crack.

The OCDETF program is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, Ridgeland Police Department, Jackson Police Department, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Brandon Police Department, Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi Department of Corrections, Pearl Police Department, Flowood Police Department, Bureau of Customs and Border Patrol, and the DEA Houston Field Division. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Wansley.