United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced thatv Ronnie K. Hongo, Jr., 43, of Many, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 180 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, on drug and firearms charges.
According to evidence presented to the court, on or about March 19, 2021, the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a residence in Many, Louisiana where Hongo lived. Law enforcement agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office had information that Hongo had been selling methamphetamine to others. During the execution of the search warrant, deputies discovered 369 grams of methamphetamine and a .45 caliber pistol inside the home. Hongo was present at the home at the time of the search, and he was subsequently arrested. Following his arrest, Hongo confessed to possession of the narcotics and firearm. Additional investigation by agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) revealed that the firearm had traveled in interstate commerce and functioned as designed. Hongo pleaded guilty on October 5, 2022 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of carrying and using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
The case was investigated by the FBI, ATF, and Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon H. Whitten.