Major investigations in multiple parishes result in dozens of defendants charged with multiple drug and gun crimes
NEW ORLEANS – Major investigations and arrest operations have taken place in Lafourche, Terrebonne and St. John Parishes over the past year, resulting in the indictments and arrests of over two dozen defendants facing multiple federal and state drug and gun charges, announced the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Louisiana, the Lafourche Sheriff’s Office and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, along with several other federal, state and local law enforcement partners, yesterday in a press conference held at the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
These major investigations, which are part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, are focused on lowering violent crime that stems from the distribution of illegal drugs. The goal of the investigations are to identify and dismantle multiple drug trafficking organizations that distribute illegal and dangerous drugs in areas with concentrated gang activity.
DEA New Orleans Division Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley said, “Drug dealing and violent crime often go hand in hand and spread fear and destruction in our communities. These investigations and resulting arrests clearly demonstrate the combined strength that federal, state and local law enforcement agencies bring to bear in the battle against these drug traffickers and strike a significant blow to their drug trafficking organizations. We are leveraging our respective resources and expertise to achieve results that we could not accomplish on our own. Our combined, concentrated efforts are making communities safer by disrupting the flow of dangerous drugs to our neighborhoods.”
During the investigation period, investigators seized almost 90 pounds of methamphetamine, five kilograms of cocaine, quantities of crack cocaine and heroin, a dozen firearms, to include AK-47s, and over a quarter of a million in cash.
The counts in today’s unsealed indictments include conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute heroin, use of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm and use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking crime.
The DEA New Orleans Division Task Force Group 3, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office were assisted by several participating agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Office of Homeland Security Investigations; Louisiana State Police; Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office; St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office; St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office; St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office; Lafourche Parish District Attorney’s Office; Terrebonne Parish District Attorney’s Office; St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office; New Orleans Police Department; the Orleans Levee District Police Department; and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections – Division of Probation and Parole.
Parents and children are encouraged to educate themselves about the dangers of drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.
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