A 29-year-old Port Sulphur, Louisiana man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after he was caught with drugs in Southeast Texas.

Molten Clemon Smith, Jr. came to Texas after Hurricane Rita ravaged his hometown in 2005. Police say after he crossed the board, he became involved in illegal activity. On November 30 of last year, smith pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine. Tuesday United States District Judge Ron Clark sentenced him.

According to information presented in court, on April 15, 2006, a Beaumont police officer stopped Smith on Interstate-10 in Jefferson County for a routine traffic violation. A search of Smith's vehicle revealed a handgun and one kilogram of cocaine hidden inside the vehicle. Smith told the officer he was a Hurricane Katrina evacuee currently living in Austin and planned to sell the drugs in New Orleans. Smith was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 21, 2007.

This case was investigated by the Beaumont Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall L. Fluke.