Bunkie man faces federal drug and firearms charges

By Avoyelles Today Staff

A Bunkie man faces federal drug and firearms charges following the return of an indictment in the Western District of Louisiana.

A federal indictment was returned June 17, 2026, against Rininski Edwards, 33, of Bunkie. He is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon as an armed career criminal and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

Federal prosecutors said Edwards could face decades of mandatory minimum sentences in federal prison if convicted on all charges.

According to court documents, Edwards is accused of possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it on March 31, 2026. He also allegedly possessed a loaded .45-caliber pistol in furtherance of his drug-trafficking activities.

Federal authorities further allege that Edwards possessed the firearm after previously being convicted three separate times of drug-trafficking or violent felonies. Prosecutors said those convictions would classify him as an armed career criminal under federal law.

“This Administration has made clear that drug traffickers and armed criminals have no place in our communities, and our Office will aggressively pursue and prosecute these offenders to get them off our streets,” U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller said. “This Office looks forward to seeing justice done in this case, with a sentence that is commensurate to the crime and criminal history of this alleged offender.”

Keller, who serves as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, announced the charges.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Louisiana State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Ashley Hammons is prosecuting the case with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon.

The prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative focused on illegal immigration, cartels, transnational criminal organizations and violent crime. The initiative coordinates federal resources with state and local law enforcement and Project Safe Neighborhoods. It also complements President Donald Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces.

The case number is 6:26-cr-00250.

An indictment is an allegation and does not constitute evidence of guilt. Edwards is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law