A Port Arthur resident has been sentenced to over 19 years in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Paris Lynn Bennette, 55, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone handed down a sentence of 235 months in federal prison on January 6, 2026.
Court records show that in 2024, local law enforcement received information about Bennette’s involvement in drug distribution in the Eastern District of Texas. On July 30, 2024, officers stopped Bennette for speeding. He attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended nearby. A police canine alerted officers to narcotics in Bennette’s vehicle, where a search uncovered a gallon-sized bag containing approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine.
The prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, which utilizes Department of Justice resources against illegal immigration and aims to dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Port Arthur Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Lee prosecuted the case.
