New Iberia, La. Man Convicted of Trying to Ship Meth to a Home

NEW IBERIA, La. (KPEL News) - There is a show on the National Geographic Channel that features a show called, "To Catch a Smuggler". The show features U.S. Customs and Border Control as they check ports and airports for various forms of contraband that is not legal in the U.S.

The following information from the U.S. Attorney's Office is a scenario that is often seen happening on the show from time to time. Now it's impacted someone from New Iberia.

A man in New Iberia will be spending time behind bars now after officials with the U.S. Attorney's Office said he was convicted for attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown said in a press release a Customs and Border Protection Officer found a suspicious package at United Parcel Service's World Port in Kentucky.

The Homeland Security Department took over the investigation, and what they found was several small packages in one large box. Several of the small boxes contained smaller packages that had things like baby supplies. Other packages contained toys.

There were also ten large Ziplock bags that contained about one pound each of meth.

U.S. District Judge David C. Joseph sentenced 30-year-old Jaron Mitchell of New Iberia to ten years and one month in prison. He will also serve probation for five years after his sentence is complete.

Officials with Homeland Security basically tracked the package from the World Port in Kentucky to a home in New Iberia where one of his associates lives. They saw him track the package via his phone and the UPS app.

The packages were then put into Mitchell's car according to investigators. The U.S. Attorney's Office reported Mitchell pleaded guilty to the charges associated with the Ziploc bags and packages in December 2022.

The Most Common Medical Marijuana Questions In Louisiana

Multiple pieces of legislation dealing with medical marijuana and expansions to the current structure have been or will be introduced in the upcoming legislative session that begins March 14, 2022.

Attitudes are shifting about recreational use as well. In last year's session, lawmakers passed a bill that changes penalties for a small amount of marijuana.

At the beginning of 2022, smokable medical marijuana also became legal. Many people have asked questions about how and where to get medical marijuana. Here is the current information available.

List of Homicides and Deaths in Acadiana for 2023

Whether you pay attention to the news each day or just sporadically check in every once in a while, I think you will agree that we are often reading about homicides and deaths around Acadiana. 2023 seems to be showing that Acadiana will have a busy year when it comes to homicides, fatal crashes, and pedestrian deaths.