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Rayne Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Cocaine Trafficking

Wayne Christopher Kelley was sentenced to 60 months in prison following a federal drug trafficking investigation.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 20, 2026, 8:54 a.m. ET
On August 10, 2026, official court documents announced that Wayne Christopher Kelley, 43, of Rayne, was to 60 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, followed by four years of supervised release. United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays handed down the sentence on July 20, 2026. According to official records under docket number in United States District Court, Kelley previously pled guilty to the charges. The Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office began investigating Kelley in early 2025 for suspected crack cocaine trafficking. Detectives executed search warrants on two residences on June 26, 2025. On July 1, 2025, investigators recovered one kilogram of cocaine at the first residence, and at the second found a book sack containing measuring cups, spoons, whisks, a calibrated scale with white residue, a razor blade, approximately 3.21 grams of cocaine, and a vacuum-sealed bag containing approximately 159 grams of cocaine. Official records state that Kelley admitted the narcotics belonged to him, with the total amount exceeding 500 grams. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana announced the sentence in a case investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations as part of Operation Take Back America.

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  1. Version 120 Aug 2026, 12:54current

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