The Gazebo Gazette
GULFPORT (GG) — Last week, Robert French from Long Beach, Mississippi, was sentenced for trafficking fentanyl. French had pled guilty in June 2025 and sentencing was deferred. After reviewing a presentence report and hearing from the prosecution and the defense, Circuit Court Judge Larry Bourgeois sentenced French to 40 years, with 20 years suspended, leaving 20 years to serve in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, followed by 5 years of supervision.
The case began on March 25, 2024 when the Gulfport Police Department Narcotics Unit received information that French was selling fentanyl. Working in an undercover capacity, a Narcotics Detective contacted French and the defendant agreed to sell fentanyl the next day- March 26, 2024.
Based upon the information received and the phone call, police obtained a warrant to place a tracker on French’s vehicle. The tracker showed that on March 26, 2024, French departed Long Beach, traveled to New Orleans, then began traveling back to the Gulf Coast. Detectives were then contacted by French and agreed to meet him at the Home Depot in Gulfport.
“Upon everyone’s arrival at the Home Depot, the undercover officer got into French’s car, where French showed the Detective over 50 grams of fentanyl which was concealed inside a paint can. French was then taken into custody. Detectives searched French’s vehicle and located 2 other bags of fentanyl, which were concealed in false bottoms of WD40 can and a Flat Fix can. In total, Detectives located over 80 grams of fentanyl,” said Assistant District Attorney Dustin Uselton, who prosecuted the case for the state.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Bourgeois told French he had committed an “egregious felony.” The judge further highlighted that French had put “countless” people in jeopardy by bringing this “poison” into our community.
Judge Larry Bourgeois then sentenced French to 40 years, with 20 years suspended, leaving 20 years to custody in the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Due to the type of crime French committed, the first 10 years of his sentence will be served without the possibility of parole or early release.
“We commend the Gulfport Police Department for their proactive investigation in this case. Their actions identified a fentanyl user and dealer, and took him off our street, making our community safer. We will continue to vigorously prosecute individuals who are perpetrating the fentanyl epidemic plaguing our community and our State,” said District Attorney W. Crosby Parker.
