Operation Safe-T-Net part of ongoing effort to dismantle Derek Moss' Bogalusa drug empire

Russel and Diana Ramsher

The knocks on the doors came early this morning, and when someone came to the door, they were greeted by armed police officers with their weapons drawn.

Operation Safe-T-Net was under way.

After gathering at the National Guard Readiness Center on Highway 10 West at 4:30, officers were first briefed, then divided into four teams as they prepared to execute a total of 17 arrest warrants.

Darin Fields

Officers hit the street at 5:12 a.m. and the first suspects were brought in through the back door of the  some 45 minutes later when Russel and Diana Ramsher were brought in ... his hands bound behind him and hers in front. As they reached the first stop in the booking process, she started crying and complaining that officers had not allowed her to "take my medicine."

Luther Whitten, Sr.

"What medicine do you take?" she was asked. She responded, but was then directed to sit at the table where the booking process began.

Tuesday's operation is the culmination of a year-long investigation that began in June 2010 when the Bogalusa Police Narcotics Unit, Louisiana State Police Criminal Investigation Division Region 1 Troopers and agents of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration initiated a joint cocaine investigation in the Bogalusa area.

Roy Lee Short

During the investigation, a drug trafficking organization lead by Derek R. Moss, 43, of Marrero. Moss, a native of Bogalusa, used his hometown as a base for his criminal activity.


A subsequent investigation into Moss' operation resulted in the utilization of various investigative techniques and led to the arrest of Moss and four high-ranking members of his organization.

Myrtis Dixon a/k/a
Myrtis Bickham

Tuesday's raids were a result of a year's worth of wiretaps and other surveillance activities and all of the suspects have been identified as members of Moss' criminal organization.

"It's almost impossible to describe," said Bogalusa Chief of Police Joe Culpepper, "once you've gone on a wire, the hours and hours and hours you listen to as you develop evidence."

Bogalusa Policeman D Ray Phelps, who coordinated the Bogalusa potion of the effort, said today's arrest were not the last that will be executed.

Jada Owens

"There's more to come," Phelps told the assembled officers.

"We appreciate all of you being here this morning," Culpepper said. "This is the culmination of three or four years work and we thank you."

Once arrested the suspects were brought to the Readiness Center for processing and booking, then taken to the Bogalusa City Jail for transport to the Washington Parish Jail in Franklinton.