Sentencing for illegal gun possession, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl

Sept. 26, 2024 – Lee Everett Henson, 53, was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and the possession of firearms used in drug trafficking.

The investigation began after the U.S. Postal Service intercepted a package that contained nearly 100 grams of fentanyl, which is over 800 pills. Independently, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics purchased approximately 80 fentanyl pills from Henson using confidential informants.

Henson was arrested and at the time, possessed over 700 fentanyl pills, approximately 40 grams of cocaine, and two firearms. Henson had previously been convicted of murder in the State of Texas and was on parole at the time.

On September 24, 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Henson to 123 months in federal prison for the offenses to be followed by five years of supervised release. Judge Aycock imposed the 63-month sentence for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl to run consecutive to the 60-month sentence for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

“Fentanyl is poison, and our office will do everything in our power to see that traffickers go to prison,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “AUSA Julie Addison should be proud of her work with our state and federal partners to bring a dangerous criminal to justice and to get these drugs off of our streets.”

“Combating illicit drugs in the mail is a top priority for the US Postal Inspection Service,” said Scott Fix, Inspector-in-Charge of the Houston Division. “The sentence handed down today should serve as a reminder to other perpetrators that we remain steadfast with our law enforcement partners to bring those who engage in this activity to justice.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, with assistance by the Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Howell Addison prosecuted the case.