Moss Point man sentenced to 35 years in prison for methamphetamine trafficking

A Mississippi Gulf Coast man will spend more than three decades in prison for dealing methamphetamine.

District Attorney W. Crosby Parker announced Tuesday that Regio Darrell Lavant, 37, will serve a lengthy sentence behind bars after being found guilty by a jury on March 1.

Law enforcement began investigating Lavant in Pass Christian on October 27, 2019, when a Harrison County deputy conducted a traffic stop for reckless driving on Interstate 10 near exit 20. In s Approaching the vehicle, in which Lavant was a passenger, the deputy smelled the odor. of marijuana and conducted a probable cause search.

Lavant was arrested after the deputy found nearly a kilo of methamphetamine in Lavant's backpack. Trial testimony revealed that Lavant traveled to Houston, Texas, and met with an individual to pick up the drugs.

“I certainly know, having been in this courtroom, that meth destroys families, friendships, communities and economies. This contributes to homelessness and neglected children in our communities. I have lost count of the number of times I have heard a defendant tell me that their addiction to methamphetamine or another drug, but especially meth, contributed to their decision to commit further crimes. Methamphetamine undoubtedly destroys lives,” Judge Randi P. Mueller said during the sentencing hearing.

Lavant will serve his 35-year sentence in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections without the possibility of early release or parole.

Assistant District Attorney Jasmine Magee prosecuted this case with Assistant District Attorney Katherine Gargiulo.