drug bust in new orleans east
Operation Wild Wild East culminated with raids that began at dawn Thursday as more. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the FBIs New Orleans Gang Task Force in investigating this matter. Linda Frickey, 73, was dragged to her death during a carjacking attempt on March 21, 2022. Operation Wild Wild East culminated with raids that began at dawn Thursday as more than 100 law enforcement officers fanned out across the neighborhoods, said Keith Brown, regional special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Police released on Friday (April 7) morning that Jason Gavin, 51, was arrested a day prior without incident and booked for cyberstalking. Palma once called Allison and told her to get $2,500 from money that was hidden in a vent so he could renew the insurance on the home. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. "Drug trafficking breeds violent crime. ( Source: East Baton Rouge Coroner's Office February 9, 2020) Prosecutors said that Palma and Allison had $228,880 of illegal drug proceeds concealed inside a column in the formal living room of their home on East Lakeshore Drive. Superintendent Shaun Ferguson commented on the arrests, saying: This investigation is another example of federal, state, and local law enforcement working together to help keep our city safe. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. His mother watched with tears in hereyes as Gaudin delivered his closing words. So you are on warning at this point. The program includes proximity reporting, where law enforcement can use an app to punch in a date, time, and location of a crime and quickly find out if anyone on an ankle monitor was present. A drug dealer was arrested in Tangipahoa Parish Wednesday (April 5) morning for dealing suspected heroin/fentanyl, according to the sheriffs office. Assault rifles, handguns, ammunition, cocaine and marijuana were seized from a New Orleans East residence, where four men were arrested Monday, police said. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. When Willis was finally caught, he was also charged with federal drug counts. It's a question of do we care about the effects of addiction, and the people who take advantage of it to put money in their pockets. Six people were arrested in connection with an alleged drug trafficking ring in Louisiana, federal prosecutors said last week. The victims of Friday (April 7) afternoon's shooting on I-10 in New Orleans East are speaking out against City Councilman Oliver Thomas, saying he got the facts wrong. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. The five white law enforcement officers indicted in connection with the May 2019 beating death of Black motorist Ronald Greene pleaded not guilty Tuesday to the respective charges they face. New Orleans Police and the FBI announce they've arrested of a heroin dealer in the Lower Ninth Ward. NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) A drug bust in New Orleans leaves two men behind bars and police with roughly half a million dollars worth of narcotics. At roughly the same time, Pelot was working as a confidential informant for the FBI, which gave him the code name Cherokee. Gaudin said Pelot helped investigators take down a school bus driver who was dealing heroin and a group of men who were caught on a wiretap plotting a murder. Friday's announcement is one of several recent efforts to crack down on suspected gang members. In that case,. He also questioned why New Orleans was the only jurisdiction to charge the death as a murder. Willis' defense attorney, Jay Daniels, cast doubt on the idea that Willis could have continued to sell drugs without the agency knowing. You have permission to edit this article. Palma, Villareal, Antunez, Filos and Anderson took actions to evade law enforcement and protect the drug trafficking venture, including talking in code, looking out for and warning each other of police presence in the area, and hiding the cocaine, heroin, and cash proceeds, prosecutors wrote. Winfield remained in Assumption Parish Detention Center with bail of $210,000, deputies said. When Branden Pelots wife found him in a bathroom in their Luling home early on Jan. 22, 2018,he was lying unresponsive near a needle and an empty baggie. The suspects fired at that man once they arrived in the Astroland neighborhood in Darrow. Critically injured boy still has bullet lodged in jaw, Tommie Powell III must serve two six-month sentences consecutively but avoided felony conviction. Here's a look at what was seized by New Orleans police: Investigators said the four men were arrested on separate charges. She is set to be sentenced after the trial. GRETNA, LA - On the morning of November 13, Agents with the Major Crimes Task Force were alerted of a portable storage container containing possible narcotics. 15 Best Amazon Clothing Brands Including Closet Staples and Statement Pieces, Memorial Day Sales 2023: The Best Early Memorial Day Deals You Can Shop Now, 45 Best Wedding Gifts That Are Way More Unique Than a Blender, 25 Trendy Amazon Spring Fashion Finds You'll Want in Your Closet ASAP. Provided by Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office, kidnapping, armed robbery and attempted murder. Nine people were arrested Tuesday after a drug bust in Thibodaux, according to Thibodaux Chief of Police Bryan Zeringue. During a search of the residence where Iris Amador-Garcia was living with her brother and co-conspirator, Mario Amador-Garcia, 31, and co-conspirator, Bayron Eberto . But according to Gaudin, agents were unaware that Willis continued to sell drugs on the sly. LSU Gymnastics gets fourth place in NCAA Championship; Haleigh Bryant tied two LSU Gymnastics set to compete for national title, Mayor announces minor league hockey team coming to Baton Rouge, For help accessing the WBRZ-TV Public File, contact: Joey Verrett at, Widow of Baton Rouge veteran receives new roof through outreach program. The NOPD says 15 people were arrested. The alleged leaders of the drug distribution ring, Jose Maldonado-Ramirez, 33, and his fianc, Iris Amador-Garcia, 30, of Bellflower, California, were arrested October 28, 2021. Law enforcement officials in New Orleans are calling it "Operation Wild Wild East.". Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Far East Region Leadership; Middle East; North and Central America; . On Wednesday, New Orleans jurors deliberated whether an admitted New Orleans East drug dealer should go to prison for life on the accusation that he supplied Pelot a fatal dose of heroin mixed with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. How do I know if I have a cold, the flu or COVID-19? There was a problem saving your notification. If found guilty of any of these offenses, JOHNSON faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, a fine up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release. Pelot had suggested Willis as a target for his next case, according to his FBI handler, special agent Sheila McMillan. Two people are still wanted. Prosecutors said that Palma and Allison had "$228,880 of illegal drug proceeds concealed inside a column in the formal living room of their home on East Lakeshore Drive. Those drugs were eventually sold in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and elsewhere. Loicano said she couldnt say whether anyone was arrested or identify the ship or the cocaine's intended recipient. Two men have been arrested for the first-degree murder of Christopher Sibley. He pleaded guilty to those and received an 87-month sentence earlier this month. District officers arrested 40-year-old Ronnie Lambert and 40-year-old Rashon Hester after . Hundreds of thousands of dollars were stashed in vents and hidden inside of columns. Assistant District Attorney Andre Gaudin Jr. described the prosecution as a tale of two investigations during his opening statement. NOPD estimates the street value of the drugs to be about $500,000. "We have the prosecutors here to ensure that justice is in fact done in these cases" in state or federal courts, Polite said. "They don't want to be rehabilitated. New Orleans, Louisiana 70130. Chief Jimmy Travis said that Jesse James Kieff is known to frequent the areas in Ponchatoula and Hammond where various ATVs have been taken and has been identified as a suspect. When will this end? 12/13 LSU (34-10, 7-8 SEC) lost a heartbreaker to No. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. According to the indictment, Palma used $11,000 in drug money as a down payment on a Rolls Royce. New Orleans Man Found Guilty of Drug and Weapons Violations NEW ORLEANS, LA - United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that DERRICK ESTES, age 42, of New Orleans, was found guilty as charged on September 21, 2022 after a two-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey. This is also not a referendum on how we treat addicts. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. They even sold drugs in the rain, every day from early morning till night. Antunez allegedly sold the drugs for thousands of dollars across Baton Rouge, including at a car wash on Siegen Lane and the parking lot at the Mall of Louisiana. Eastern District of Louisiana (504) 680-3000. A woman was sentenced to 6.5 years in federal prison after she was convicted for submitting fraudulent claims for Paycheck Protection Program benefits. She was located along with a 17-year-old female and a . We know where you operate. Chief Serpas says 15 people were using that corner to sell drugs. Convicted Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 30 Years for Trafficking Nearly 150 Pounds of Drugs, Including Heroin, Fentanyl, and Marijuana April 3, 2023 Read More Press Release Southwest Georgia Man. The container was being shipped from. - A covert narcotics investigation in New Orleans that took years to develop has paid off for police. They were reportedly en route to New Orleans to distribute the drugs. SAINT BERNARD, La. ( KTVE/KARD) The Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office received an anonymous complaint that drugs were being used and sold at a residence on the 300 block of Redbud Street. One of the most massive sting operations in the history of New Orleans has resulted in an unprecedented 111 arrests. Guns of all shapes and sizes were placed through the home, all in an effort to protect the cash. Deputies with the Iberville Parish Sheriffs Office found the escaped inmate they were searching for on Thursday morning, April 6. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WDSU-TV. AUBURN, AL - No. Investigators were preparing to search a home in Paincourtville on Monday when Kevin Ross Jr. left the house after he and several other people had been patted down, Assumption Parish sheriff's deputies said. One man is dead after a shooting in Hammond on Easter evening, police say. So you are on warning at this point. We know who you are. That is a false sense of confidence that you have. U.S. Attorney's Office May 21, 2009. In addition to murder, Willis faces three heroin distribution counts, two counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin, one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and one count of money laundering. Officials say that after the shooting, the suspect fled to Vicksburg to visit his father, who turned Wardley into authorities. According to Sheriff James Pohlmann, Norman Pearley, 31, was arrested and . Pelot was father to a son and daughter. The drug investigation in eastern New Orleans resulted in 111 arrests, authorities said. The NOPD says 15 people were arrested. (Photo by Brett Duke, Nola.com | The Times-Picayune). A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson, Sarah Loicano, said that port officials had found the stash of more than 220 pounds of cocaine Tuesday in a shipping container that was entering the United States. Palma would meet Antunez to collect the cash from the drug sales. "We talked about making a difference making an impact in the violent crime by targeting those (who) have already committed violent acts.". Police searched the residence and found the firearms and narcotics. Ascension sheriff's investigators had told Assumption deputies that Ross may be at the home in Paincourtville before the drug bust occurred, said Donovan Jackson, Ascension sheriff's spokesman. New Orleans police are searching for a woman accused of stealing wigs and threatening to stab an employee. I would want to see this in a show. 21/24 Auburn (32-13, 9-6 SEC), 1-0 in nine innings Sunday afternoon at Southeastern baseball wins game two 8-7 against McNeese. HAMMOND - Before Saturday, April wasn't a kind LSU Gymnastics gets fourth place in NCAA Championship; Haleigh Bryant tied two school records during meet. A six-month drug investigation ineastern New Orleansresulted in 111 arrests, authorities said Friday. When confronted with the evidence, Willis agreed to help the DEA with other investigations. Cocaines retail value at the street level can be hard to determine. The victims of Friday (April 7) afternoons shooting on I-10 in New Orleans East are speaking out against City Councilman Oliver Thomas, saying he got the facts wrong. But because Andre Gaudin wants to make this a referendum on the heroin epidemic, we're here, Daniels said. 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. Ronal Serpas says this investigation is the result of good police work and concerned citizens who refused to let drug dealers take over their neighborhood. Raffray, who was also charged with murder under the same theory of a drug-induced homicide, pleaded guilty last year to a reduced count of manslaughter. In addition to counts in Ascension, Ross is also wanted on new counts in Assumption, including simple escape, illegal weapons possession around illegal drugs, possession of oxycodone, intent to distribute marijuana and oxycodone, and other counts, deputies said. 5A in the Village of Medina . The arrest comes after police executed search warrants at storage units located at 11655 Million Dollar Highway in the Town of Ridgeway and at 510 West Avenue, Apt. (Photo by Brett Duke, Nola.com | The Times-Picayune), DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Brown speaks during a press conference about operation 'Wild Wild East' in New Orleans on Friday, January 30, 2015. Sometimes they were placed outside to be picked up. A Metairie woman and Houston man are recovering after being targeted by three gunmen at a downtown New Orleans red light less than two weeks ago. "If we are all truly willing to work for it, then there is a better future on the horizon," he said. Three women, including a juvenile, were rushed to the hospital after being shot on the interstate in New Orleans East, police say. Ascension sheriff's deputies said Ross and Adams kidnapped one man at gunpoint and forced him to reveal the location of another man. David's Bridal files for bankruptcy, but your David's Bridal files for bankruptcy, but your order is safe. Widow of Baton Rouge veteran receives new LSUPD searching for pair of alleged identity La. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. City leaders say that gang is responsible for 15 murders since 2008. Meanwhile, Pelot started cooperating with the FBI after he was caught in a drug bust. Residents distracted by Mardi Gras season or Sunday's Super Bowl are "blinded to the undeniable fact our city is presently under siege from urban terrorists," Cannizzaro said. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. 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