Thirteen of seventeen individuals sought on warrants in connection with a roundup of local and area drug dealers are now in Washington Parish Jail in Franklinton.
"Everything went really smooth," explained Bogalusa Police Chief Joe Culpepper. "The planning, preparation and execution took a lot of work, but after that it all went very well."
The arrests brought to a close a multi-agency task force investigation. The task force was made up of agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, LSP Criminal Investigations Division Hammond Field Office and the Bogalusa Police Department.
The investigation began in June of 2010, when detectives identified a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) lead by Derek Moss, (B/M age 44) of Marrero, suspected of trafficking cocaine throughout the Bogalusa area.
Moss, a native of Washington Parish, established Bogalusa as the DTO’s base of operation utilizing residents to distribute narcotics throughout the community.
On Feb. 19, 2011, Moss and several high ranking members of the DTO were arrested without incident resulting in the disruption of the criminal enterprise. The subsequent investigation led to the identification of the 17 individuals sought on Tuesday.
Those arrested and their charges include:
• Sebastian Levi (B/M age 45) - Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Cocaine)
• John Roberts (B/M age 41) - Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Cocaine)
• Darin Fields (B/M age 29) - Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Cocaine)
• Myrtis Dixon (B/M age 47) - Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Cocaine)
• Luther Whitten Sr. (B/M age 53) - Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Cocaine)
• Diana Ramsher (W/F age 42) – Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Oxycontin), Possession of a weapon in the presence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, and Possession of a CDS in a Drug Free Zone.
• Russell Ramsher (W/M age 40) - Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Oxycontin), Possession of a weapon in the presence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, and Possession of a CDS in a Drug Free Zone.
• Gregory Bickham (B/M age 41) - Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Cocaine)
• Larry O’Neal Cotton (B/M age 37) - Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Cocaine)
• Roderick McCray (B/M age 27) - Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Cocaine)
• Jada Owens (B/F age 46) - Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Cocaine)
• Roy Short (B/M age 36) - Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Cocaine) and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
• Johnny Robertson (B/M age 51) - Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Cocaine) and Possession of Schedule II CDS (Cocaine)
Detectives are continuing their investigation and actively seeking the following suspects:
• Tina Jefferson (B/F age 26) - Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Cocaine)
• Randall Lavinghouse (W/M age 38) - Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Cocaine)
• Willie Holloway (B/M age 31) - Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Cocaine)
• Jason Cooley Jr. (B/M age 30) - Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Cocaine)
Culpepper told wpnewsblog that Jefferson, Lavinghouse and Holloway had contacted police and there was a possibility they would surrender to police.
Mug shots will be available Wednesday.
Well done Officers and Detectives!
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