A Lake Charles man has been sentenced on federal drug possession and firearm charges.

U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown said Albert Royster Jr., 42, was sentenced to 70 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Brown said in June 2021, law enforcement agents became aware of Royster’s drug trafficking activities and began an investigation.  On Aug. 5, 2021, detectives with the Combined Anti-Drug Task Force in Calcasieu Parish obtained and executed a search warrant on Royster’s residence.

During the search, detectives located 215.25 grams of cocaine and 61.03 grams of crack cocaine packaged in various amounts consistent with drug distribution. In a bedroom used by Royster, they located and seized an American Tactical AR-15 style rifle, a Norinco rifle, over 60 rounds of ammunition, and over $3,000 in cash.

Brown said the American Tactical AR-15 style rifle had been reported as stolen. The seized narcotics were sent to the crime lab for testing and confirmed to be cocaine and crack cocaine.

Royster was previously convicted of distribution of cocaine in 2012 and is prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. He was indicted in this case and pleaded guilty on July 19 to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.