A Shreveport man faces decades in jail after a Caddo Parish jury found him guilty of five separate drug and gun charges Wednesday, June 16, 2021.
Bernard Grant, also known as Lucious Cummings, 51, was found guilty unanimously as-charged on four of the five counts by the eight-man, four-woman jury in District Judge Erin Leigh Waddell Garrett’s courtroom.
The charges stemmed from his August 4, 2020 arrest by Shreveport Police at a motel on Claiborne Avenue, during which officers discovered 11 baggies of methamphetamine, as well as the Schedule I drugs Cathinone and synthetic cannabinoid, Schedule II cocaine and the legend drug Hydroxyzine. Police also found a .22-caliber Ruger. At the time of his arrest, Mr. Grant was on parole following a 2005 conviction for possession of Schedule II controlled dangerous substances with intent to distribute, for which he received a 30-year sentence.
The four guilty-as-charged counts were possession of less than 28 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute; the illegal carrying of a weapon, the Ruger, while in possession of methamphetamine and cocaine; possession of a firearm or carrying of a concealed weapon by a convicted felon; and possession of under two grams of cocaine.
The jury returned a responsive guilty charge on the remaining count, possession of synthetic marijuana with intent to distribute (less than 2-1/2 pounds). The jury found him guilty of synthetic marijuana, less than 14 grams.
He will return to Judge Garrett’s courtroom June 29, 2021, for sentencing. There, he faces up to 10 years in prison, with or without hard labor, and a fine of up to $50,000, for possession of less than 28 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; five to 10 years at hard labor, without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence and a fine of up to $10,000, for illegal carrying of a weapon while in possession of methamphetamine and cocaine; five to 20 years at hard labor, also without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence, and a fine of from $1,000 to $5,000 for possession of a firearm or concealed weapon by a convicted felon; and up to two years in prison, with or without hard labor, as well as a fine of up to $5,000, for possession of less than two grams of cocaine.
On the responsive count of simple possession of less than 14 grams of synthetic marijuana, he faces up to 15 days in jail and a fine of up to $300.
Mr. Grant was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Ross Owen and Erica Jefferson. He was defended by Michael Bowers.