RSS Feed

The investigation that resulted in six arrests on drug and racketeering charges last week started in 2018 and resulted in the seizure of a variety of illegal drugs, including heroin and PCP, the St. Mary Sheriff's Office said.

"It was learned that the Weeden Drug Trafficking Organization, led by Lamar Jermaine Weeden of Parks, who was on Federal Parole, and Willie Alfred of Jeanerette, was once again actively distributing drugs in St. Mary Parish despite action by federal law enforcement," the Sheriff's Office said in a press release Wednesday.

Through the investigation, more than 30 subjects were identified as being a part of the organization, which extended beyond St. Mary Parish. The Louisiana State Police was contacted to assist due to the organizational operations outside the parish jurisdiction. Arrests were made by St. Mary deputies as well as the state police on most of those who were identified and warrants have been obtained for others.

On April 19, a multiagency operation was conducted in order to execute warrants and arrest the leaders of this organization.

Warrants for Lamar Weeden and Willie Alfred were executed simultaneously, and both men were taken into custody without incident.

Several other warrants were executed that day, with six subjects arrested on warrants for racketeering activity and conspiracy to commit racketeering activity. The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected, the Sheriff's Office said.

The seizures included:
• 125 g. Heroin
• 233.8 g. Crack Cocaine
• 471 g. Powder Cocaine
• 1,167 dosage vials of Ecstasy
• 7 ½ dosage vials of Lorazepam
• 500 dosage units of Xanax
• 19 grams of Marijuana
• 2 vials of PCP
• $63,000 in cash

Sheriff Blaise Smith thanked his narcotics detectives for their tireless efforts and the Louisiana State Police for their assistance, as well as those agencies who assisted with serving the warrants on April 19:
• Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office
• Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office
• Homeland Security Investigations
• Customs & Border Protection
• Louisiana National Guard Counter Drug Program
• Berwick Police Department
• Morgan City Police Department

Arrested last week by St. Mary authorities were:

—Kurwin Nigel Webb Sr., 46, Patterson, was arrested at 11:23 a.m. Monday by the Narcotics Section on a warrant for racketeering activity and conspiracy to commit racketeering activity. Webb also held three warrants for failure to appear on the charges of criminal neglect of family (two counts) and expired motor vehicle inspection.
Bail was set at $251,300.

—Leon Williams, 64, Patterson, was arrested at 12:35 p.m. Monday by the Narcotics Section on a warrant for racketeering activity and conspiracy to commit racketeering activity. Bail was set at $250,000.

—Leroy Hawkins Jr., 37, Jeanerette, was arrested at 10:46 a.m. Monday by the Narcotics Section on a warrant for racketeering activity and conspiracy to commit racketeering activity. Bail was set at $250,000.

—Morris L. Charles, 47, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:23 p.m. Monday by the Narcotics Section on a warrant for racketeering activity and conspiracy to commit racketeering activity. Bail was set at $250,000.

—Willie Alfred, 41, Four Corners, was arrested at 7:42 a.m. Monday by the Narcotics Section on a warrant for two counts of distribution of cocaine, distribution of Schedule II drugs, racketeering activity and conspiracy to commit racketeering activity.
Bail was set at $300,000.

A sixth arrest was made by Morgan City police:

—Kim James Butler Jr., 39, Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:06 p.m. Monday on 16th Judicial District Court warrants for racketeering activity and conspiracy to commit racketeering activity.

The 10th annual Bayou BBQ Bash will be held this year with the possibility for expansion to include vendors to sell items at booths.
The Morgan City Council unanimously granted approval for the event Tuesday. It will be held July 23 and 24 under the U.S. 90 bridge from First Street to Federal Avenue. The event will begin at 4 p.m. on July 23 and continue until 10 p.m. and will continue the next day until around 6 p.m.
In addition to the contest and a Kids BBQ Contest, food vendors will be present Friday and Saturday. Alcohol also will be sold if the permit can be secured, said Bill Goessl of the Marine Corps League-St. Mary Detachment, which is handling the event.
“We expect to have 40 to 60 cooking teams throughout the South coming down,” he said.
A year ago, Goessl said, teams came from as far west as Houston and from Pensacola, Florida.
Additionally, the Krewe of Adonis plans to hold a corn hole tournament July 24, while entertainment and potential vendors also will be present. Goessl said he received many calls about vendors selling items from booths, but because the event was limited to competitors due to COVID-19, he had to turn them down. However, he has spoken with Morgan City Main Street Director Beth Price, who will be in charge of any vendors who would like to participate.
With the request, Third and Arkansas streets in the area of the bridge will be closed from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. on July 23 and from 7 a.m. until about 6 p.m. on July 24. Greenwood Street’s intersection at Second and Arkansas streets also will be closed Saturday.
Also, the Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau, in conjunction with its “Bayou Shopping Days” campaign through Monday, will be holding an event promoting Morgan City’s shopping on May 8. The event will include local artists near the Frame Shop, while other businesses will be open. Deric Anslem also will play from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The council granted permission to close Freret Street from First Street to the seawall for the event.
In other action, the council:
—Learned that a resolution calling for the appointment of Teddy Liner as interim city marshal was incorrect. State law requires that the chief deputy marshal hold the position. Chief Deputy Marshal Ronald Kinchen will hold the position.
Also, council members learned that the election for a new marshal has to be called by the parish. That will be considered at Wednesday’s parish council meeting. City attorney Paul Landry said that the state is required to call the election because state law says the court’s governing authority is tasked with calling for such. The city court’s jurisdiction extends beyond the city limit to the east.
“The state law says if any part of the jurisdiction of the court goes outside of the city limits, then the parish is the proper governing authority to call” for the election, Landry said.
—Approved $10,000 for special legal counsel, if needed, to handle a potential civil service issue involving personnel.
Councilman Lou Tamporello asked why the city needs a special counsel instead of using Landry.
Landry and Mayor Lee Dragna said a lot can’t be said about the matter because it’s a personnel issue.
Landry said following the meeting that state law says if a civil service complaint is filed, an investigation must be concluded within 60 days. Dragna said during the meeting the city already is in day 10 of that timeline. Landry said following the meeting he couldn’t say if an investigation had been initiated.
Dragna said he doesn’t think the city will end up needing the counsel, but wanted it just in case because there is a deadline dictated by civil service law.
The measure was approved on a 4-0 vote, with Councilman Mark Stephens abstaining. Stephens said he has a family member on the civil service board.
—Approved its financial statements. There were favorable variances in all three city accounts. Specifically, in the city’s General and Ancillary fund, Finance Director Deborah Garber noted that revenues were over budget by $99,826, with sales tax collections accounting for $78,000 of that total. The account had a favorable variance of $181,752 as compared to what was budgeted.
In the Utility Fund, the outlook changed, too, as revenues only were under budget by approximately $29,000, which Garber said was a big improvement. Operating expenses also were under budget, resulting in a favorable variance of $247,000.
“It had been unfavorable as compared to budget so far this year,” Garber said. “So things are looking up there. Our electric revenues seem to be balancing out, so that’s the improvement.”
In the Sanitation and Sewer Fund, there is a favorable variance of $75,841.
—Had the first reading of its ordinance for millage rates for the 2021 tax year. The millage rate anticipated is 16.07 mills for ad valorem taxes and 2 mills for Morgan City Municipal Auditorium expenses.
—Approved a reallocation of $50,000 to be used for the refurbishment of the La. 70 lift station. The money will come from $175,000 that had been allocated to the Water Sewer and Gas Department for the installation of a generator at the lift station at Federal Avenue and Bowman Street. However, the city received an emergency generator from the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District.
—Adopted an ordinance for the Morgan City Development District. No public comments were offered during the public hearing prior to the adoption.
The district already was created in 2014 by state law, Landry said.
“What we’re doing with this ordinance is essentially mirroring the language and just copying the entire statute, and we’re going to make it a code for the city because our charter requires that we have an ordinance before the city buy and sell property,” Landry said.
—Authorized a signature for a cooperative endeavor agreement with the town of Berwick for the city to donate a 1996 Ferrara Freightliner fire truck to Berwick.
—Had the first reading of an ordinance declaring surplus and sale of property adjacent to 1811 Front St.
—Granted a Class A Liquor & Beer permit for Urbano-Duran Pedro, doing business as La Brisas, LLC, at 7418 La. 182 East.
—Approved Dragna appointments to boards: Micah Allen, archives; Tonya Washington, board of adjustments; Ryan Yager, cemetery; Angela Reynaud, convention, tourism and culture; Bobby Dufrene and Don Hicks, economic development; Alex McIntyre, Morgan City Main Street; Don Hick, Planning and Zoning. Bryce Merrill will be reappointed to the convention, tourism and culture board, while Deborah Price will be reappointed to the Morgan City Main Street Committee.

May 2, 1950 — April 27, 2021
Salvatore “Jay” Morell Jr., a native and longtime resident of Morgan City, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at the age of 70.
A simple family man, he adored his wife, children but especially his grandchildren. His family came first in Jay’s life. To provide for his family, Jay proudly served his community for 20 years as a police officer with the Morgan City Police Department until his retirement. In his spare time, he enjoyed traveling specifically on Disney Cruises with his grandchildren where he made wonderful memories.
Jay is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Gwen Simon Morell of Morgan City; his daughter, Shelly Morell; his son, Mark Morell and his wife, Maurita; his brother, Steve Morell and his wife, Shelley; three grandchildren, Brett, Jillian, and Gabriella Morell; and his niece and nephew, Ashlee Broussard and Matthew Morell.
He joins in heaven, his parents, Salvatore “Slick” Morell Sr. and Mary Elizabeth ‘Libby’ Morell; and his father and mother-in-law, John Simon and Bernice Simon.
The family requests that a time of visitation be observed on Thursday, April 29, 2021 from 9:00 A.M. until time of dismissal at 10:30 A.M. at Hargrave Funeral Home of Morgan City.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Jay following visitation on Thursday, April 29th at 11:00 A.M. at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Morgan City with graveside services taking place in the Morgan City Cemetery.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Jay’s Dialysis Nurses, Taylor, Lia, and Nini; Heart of Hospice of Franklin and Jay’s hospice nurse, Dori.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Central Catholic High School in Jay’s memory.

(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)

Monday and the early morning hours Tuesday were a busy time for the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office, which made eight arrests on drug possession or paraphernalia cases in less than six hours, according to arrest reports.

St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 44 complaints and made these arrests:
—Michael Charles, 57, Franklin, was arrested at 7:58 p.m. Monday on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Charles was released on a summons to appear July 22.
 —Terry Lynn Mitchell, 51, Franklin, was arrested at 7:58 p.m. Monday on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Mitchell was released on a summons to appear July 22.
—Michael Delano Bourgeois III, 22, Franklin, was arrested at 9:25 p.m. Monday on charges of turning movements and signals, driver must be licensed, possession with intent to distribute Schedule I drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses, and possession with intent to distribute a legend drug.
Bourgeois also held a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of marijuana. No bail has been set.
—Joseph D’Zim Radford, 22, Franklin, was arrested at 9:25 p.m. Monday on charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and obstruction of justice (tampering). Radford was released on a $5,000 bond.
—Renaldo Keith Toussaint Jr., 26, Franklin, was arrested at 9:25 p.m. Monday on a charge of possession with intent to distribution of Schedule I drugs. Toussaint was released on a $3,500 bond.
—Reginald Demond Charles, 29, Franklin, was arrested at 9:25 p.m. Monday on a charge of possession with intent to distribute Schedule I drugs. Charles was released on a summons to appear July 22.
—Da’Jonnae Murdock, 21, Franklin, was arrested at 12:43 a.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana and improper lane usage. Murdock was released on a summons to appear July 22.
—Terrance Germayne Wiggins, 41, Franklin, was arrested at 1:46 a.m. Tuesday on charges of improper lane usage, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal carrying of a weapon in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of THC wax.
Wiggins also held a warrant for failure to appear on charges of possession of a firearm or carrying a concealed weapon by a convicted felon, possession of or dealing in firearms with an obliterated number, possession of drug paraphernalia, and improper or failure to give required signal.
—Michael Ray Ceaser, 41, Franklin, was arrested at 2:18 p.m. Monday on two warrants on the charges of operating a vehicle without a driver’s license, failure to use seat belt and speeding. Bail has not been set.
—Guadalupe Jose Maldonado, 66, Patterson, was arrested at 10:22 p.m. Monday on charges of driving on roadway laned for traffic, driving under suspension and driving while intoxicated. Maldonado was released on a $6,250 bond.
Bail has not been set.

Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:
—Juan Carlos De Jesus Vega, 30, Hood Street, Donaldsonville, was arrested Monday on a charge of injuring public records.
The arrest followed an attempt to obtain a Louisiana identification card through fraudulent means.
On Monday, deputies responded to a state Office of Motor Vehicles and made contact with the management.
Deputies examined the documents that Vega provided the OMV and determined that those documents were indeed fraudulent. Deputies arrested Vega and booked him into the Assumption Parish Detention Center pending a bond hearing.
—Telly Savalas Ross, 47, French Lane, Napoleonville, was arrested Monday on a charge of failure to register as a sex offender.
In March, detectives received information that Ross, a convicted sex offender, was no longer living at the address he provided to authorities during registration.
Detectives initiated an investigation and determined that Ross was convicted of indecent behavior with a juvenile in September 2013 and had been released at the conclusion of his sentence in August 2018. It was further determined that Ross was no longer living at the address he registered and he failed to register at his new address.
At the conclusion of the investigation, warrants were applied for and received for the arrest of Ross.
Ross was arrested on Monday in Napoleonville and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Facility pending a bond hearing.

St. Martin
Sheriff Becket Breaux reported these arrests:
—Christopher Bonvillian, 31, Mills Avenue, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Monday on a warrant for failure to appear on a charge of duty to notify law enforcement of an address change.
—Rusty Jean-lewis, 31, Port Street, St. Martinville, was arrested Monday by the St. Martinville Police Department on a charge of failure to appear.
—Tatyana Michael, 21, Belle Terre Drive, St. Martinville, was arrested Monday on a charge of battery of the infirm.