A Philadelphia man was sentenced to 12 years and two months in prison for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

According to court documents, Roger Devonta Stokes, 41, distributed more than 5 grams of methamphetamine in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians in July of 2021.

A federal grand jury indicted Stokes in a two-count indictment involving the distribution of methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation.  On September 7, 2023, Stokes entered a plea of guilty to one of those counts.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, Regional Agent in Charge Whitney Woodruff of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerly of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns.