LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) – A Louisiana man has been sentenced to five years in prison after being caught with more than 2,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills at a hotel in Laredo, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

Walter Wellington Somers, 41, of Lake Charles, pleaded guilty in April to a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.

On July 22, U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison ordered Somers to serve 60 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release. Prosecutors said Somers had a long record of arrests and planned to take the drugs back to Louisiana to sell for more money.

Authorities said the case began Dec. 23, 2023, when staff at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Laredo found what looked like drugs in a room while cleaning. They called police, who showed up and saw Somers trying to get back into the room. He told them he had broken a TV and came back to pay for it.

Inside the room, police found a silver bag full of small blue pills marked with “M-30.” A test later showed they contained fentanyl. In total, there were 2,319 pills. The pills were traced back to Sinaloa, Mexico, investigators said.

DEA officials said just two milligrams of fentanyl can be deadly.

“DEA’s work in this case helped save lives,” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell. “Somers had thousands of fake pills that could have hurt many people in the Laredo area.”

Investigators said Somers had traveled from Louisiana to meet a friend in South Texas. In messages between the two, they talked about collecting money and getting drugs. In one voice message, Somers was told that if he sent $700 or $800, someone would front them 3,000 pills. The friend also sent a video showing bags of the same kind of pills found in the hotel.

Somers will stay in custody until he is moved to a federal prison.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Laredo Police Department worked on the case. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Chamberlin and Brittany Jensen.

The case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, which targets major drug operations in the U.S.

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HANOVER, Md. — Just one day before National Hire a Veteran Day, the Maryland Department of Labor took early action to help veterans connect with career opportunities by hosting a major hiring event at Live! Casino and Hotel.

90 vendors and employers lined the ballroom, offering job seekers the chance to hand over resumes and shake hands with potential employers. From defense contractors to local police departments, the event spotlighted employers actively looking to hire those who’ve served.

Among the crowd was Abby Malcoh, a Navy veteran who’s been job hunting for three months. She says the transition from military to civilian life has been anything but smooth.

“It’s had some highs and lows. I received a job offer, but I’ve really been trying to figure out what my next move would be,” Malcoh said.

However, she’s not giving up. Malcoh tells WMAR-2 News that bringing a veteran on board strengthens company culture, advances initiatives, and proves they can continue to work hard after service.

“I think veterans tend to be very resilient, and there’s no task that I feel a veteran can’t tackle. In the military, they tell us, ‘You need to do this, this, and this,’ and we just figure it out.”

Also at the event was Keyinde Dessou, a Maryland National Guard soldier currently in Advanced Individual Training—the phase where soldiers specialize in their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). He came not to land a job, but to start building connections.

“There’s a lot of opportunity, and sometimes it’s overwhelming,” he said. “Networking helps you figure out where to start.”

The event wasn’t just for job seekers. Brian Dahleimer, President of Tailored Access, a Fort Meade-based defense contractor, said veterans are vital to his company’s success. Of his 125 employees, 76% are veterans.

“They come with the right skills, the right clearances, and the right mindset,” Dahleimer said. “We rely on their leadership and mission-focused mentality.”

Other participating employers included Boeing, the Baltimore Police Department, and multiple fire departments, many looking to fill leadership roles with veterans who already know how to lead.

“A lot of our veterans are already coming with project management and leadership experience,” said Javonte McDonald, Director of Workforce Development for the Maryland Department of Labor.

The department says events like this are key to bridging the gap between service and civilian life.

“Veterans are often overlooked, even after risking their lives for our country,” said LeRoy Thomas, Veterans Program Manager. “We want them to be seen, heard, and hired.”

• “American Idol” winner Jamal Roberts is releasing a new single, “Mississippi,” on July 24.
• Roberts won Season 23 of “American Idol” and his first single, “Heal,” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart.
• The Meridian native has been touring and recording since his win in May.
• Roberts will join Brandy and Monica on their “The Boy is Mine” tour in the fall.

Meridian native and “American Idol” reigning champion Jamal Roberts is releasing his newest single, “Mississippi,” as a tribute to the state that shaped his career.

In May, Roberts won “American Idol” in a record-breaking vote. In the months since the confetti fell and Ryan Seacrest called his name, Roberts has kept busy touring and recording. His single “Heal” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart.

“Mississippi” will be available to download starting at 11 p.m. central DST on Thursday, July 24, on all major streaming platforms.

The single, a blend of gospel and R&B, was recorded at Electric Blue Studios in California and produced by Grammy-nominated producer Emile Ghantous, who is also credited as a co-writer. Daniel J. Capellaro and Christian Stalnecker are also credited as co-writers alongside Roberts.

From Meridian to Hollywood and back

Roberts, a 27-year-old P.E. teacher at Crestwood Elementary, started his “American Idol” Season 23 journey when he won a golden ticket singing “Mary Jane” by Rick James in audition rounds.

Before competing on “American Idol,” Roberts grew a following singing covers on TikTok.

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In the weeks following his audition, Roberts traveled throughout the U.S. with his fellow contestants, eluding elimination rounds with his raw, soulful performances.

On May 12, Roberts became the fourth Mississippian in “American Idol” history to break the Top 3.

When Roberts first auditioned, judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood were impressed, but agreed Roberts could use some more confidence. The singer gradually grew his stage presence, and by the finale, Roberts easily commanded the room.

Days before the finale, Roberts returned to Meridian for a massive homecoming celebration, including a parade. The concert that followed drew a crowd of 20,000. The entire population of Meridian is just over 33,500.

Shortly after his “American Idol” victory, Roberts told the Clarion Ledger that the following months were already booked with performances, interviews, appearances and recording sessions.

In between the busy days, Roberts planned to spend as much time as possible with his three daughters, Harmoni, 6, Lyrik, 4, and Gianna, who was born just two weeks before the “American Idol” finale.

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