Friday’s arrest of a Haynesville man at a Minden residence was just the tip of the iceberg in an ongoing Louisiana State Police and Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office investigation into drug trafficking in Claiborne Parish.
While Minden narcotics investigators and officers arrested 34-year-old Georgerick Ja Tedias Coleman on racketeering and drug possession charges, agents from multiple agencies were making 14 additional arrests for racketeering and other charges.
LSP Trooper Eddie Thomas, Troop G public information officer, said the arrests came after an eight-month investigation which originated to look into drug trafficking in Cliborne Parish.
As the investigation moved ahead, agents identified numerous suspects operating an active drug trafficking network from several residences across the area. LSP and Claiborne Parish sheriff’s deputies teamed with agencies in surrounding jurisdictions early Friday to begin serving arrest and search warrants.
According to Thomas, detectives confiscated seven firearms, approximately $5,000, over 20 grams of crack cocaine, over eight pounds of marijuana and over a pound of methamphetamine.
In the Minden arrest, officers seized found four large vacuum sealed bags, each containing approximately two pounds of natural marijuana with a street value totaling nearly $13,000. In addition to the marijuana, police found $3,590 in cash located in a bedroom and a money counting machine.
In addition to the state police Bureau of Investigations, Patrol, Special Operations, and Evidence Control Unit, agencies involved in the operation include the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Columbia County (Arkansas) Sheriff’s Office.
Also, the Bossier City Police Department, Minden Police Department, David Wade Correctional Facility, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Marshals Service, and Arkansas State Police.
A total of 15 individuals were arrested in connection to the drug trafficking organization. Names of those arrested and the charges are:
• 36-year-old John Michael Jackson — attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Jackson reportedly fired on officers as they attempted to make the arrest.
• 34-year-old Georgerick Ja Tedias Coleman – racketeering, possession of CDS Sch. I (marijuana) with intent to distribute.
• 35-year-old Rontrell Leaujuwun Sturdivant – racketeering.
• 35-year-old Demontre D. Robinson – racketeering.
• 54-year-old Richard Lavel Jones Sr. – racketeering.
• 38-year-old Dexter Terell Washington – racketeering
• 37-year-old Dedarain Kantrez Robinson – racketeering
• 41-year-old Alonzo Demario Jackson – racketeering
• 50-year-old Demond Maddox – racketeering
• 34-year-old Nicholas Richardo Willis – racketeering
• 37-year-old Derrick Dewayne Bradford – racketeering
• 39-year-old Ashley Morgan – active Claiborne Parish SO warrant.
• 59-year-old Fernanado B. Grider – active Claiborne Parish SO warrant.
• 41-year-old Falante Pierre Hill – active Claiborne Parish SO warrant.
• 45-year-old Jaime R. Rocket – active Claiborne Parish SO warrant.
Thomas said the investigation is ongoing, and additional arrests are anticipated.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.