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Archive for October, 2011
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Thursday, October 27th, 2011Convenience Stores Owners Arrested for Distribution of Synthetic Marijuana
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011Fifteen individuals have been arrested for selling synthetic marijuana in convenience stores throughout the St. Tammany Parish, Sheriff Jack Strain announced today.
The arrests come as a result of a months-long investigation into the selling of the substances, which were banned by the legislature in July of this year.
Since July, undercover agents with the St. Tammany Parish Narcotics Task Force have visited more than 100 gas stations, convenience stores and tobacco shops throughout the parish in an attempt to purchase synthetic marijuana. Eleven stores were found to still be selling the banned substances and sold packages to the agents. In some cases the agents, acting on information gained during the investigation, had to use code words when asking for the products. In one case, a former business owner was selling stock that was left over from the closing of a store. These sales were made in retail parking lots in western St. Tammany Parish.
The great majority of St. Tammany stores either never sold these products or stopped stocking the products after the ban went into effect.
The operation began when members of the task force, acting on intelligence gathered about an overseas shipment destined for St. Tammany Parish, set up a surveillance post at the Mandeville Post Office. Two individuals were observed at the post office taking receipt of a package, which contained raw materials to be used in the manufacture of synthetic marijuana.
Realizing there was an active distribution network, the task force developed a plan to locate and seize any of the substances in retail locations throughout the parish. After making the undercover purchases, the material was brought to the Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab for analysis. After confirming the material as banned substances, search warrants were obtained for the businesses and homes of various individual store owners. Any illegal product and currency discovered at the stores and/or residences was seized. None of the homes were found to contain any other normal stock intended for sale at the stores.
During the course of the investigation, local manufacturing labs were also identified in Talisheek and in St. Helena parish. Agents shut down the Talisheek operation, named JNA Manufacturing, and dismantled the lab. The investigation of the St. Helena lab was turned over to State Police and federal agents.
As a result of the operation, the task force seized approximately 8,500 packets of synthetic marijuana, approximately $115,000 in cash, and eight vehicles connected to the distribution of the drugs.
Task Force members executed arrest warrants yesterday on a number of the individuals involved. Two of the store owners were out of the country and will be arrested upon their return to St. Tammany; deputies were still looking for two of the suspects Wednesday morning.
The names of the individuals arrested and their bookings are as follows. Note that in this listing, “Spice” is used as a generic term for synthetic marijuana and PWITD stands for “possession with the intent to distribute”:
Hassan Sffibli (527 N. Harrison St., Covington)
Business: iStop Grocery, 1301 N. Columbia St., Covington
- seized 91 packets of “Spice” from store
– seized 104 packets of “Spice” from residence
Charges: (not arrested – out of country)
L.R.S. 40:966a/c – PWITD synthetic marijuana (1 count, warrant issued)
L.R.S. 40:966 – distribution of synthetic marijuana (1 count, warrant issued)
Al Khalaqi Saleh Kaid Ali (address unknown)
Business: AA Tobacco, 22107 Hwy. 36, Abita Springs
– seized 287 packets of “Spice” from business
– seized records indicating source was JNA in Talisheek
Charges: (not arrested – out of country)
L.R.S. 40:966a/c – PWITD synthetic marijuana (1 count, warrant issued)
Angela Boothe (76058 Hwy. 435 Spur, Talisheek)
Carl Boothe (76058 Hwy. 435 Spur, Talisheek)
Business: JNA Manufacturing, same address
- seized 100 packets of their brand of “Spice”
– seized 2 handguns
– seized personal use cocaine & oxycodone
- seized their “Spice” lab which contained approx. ½ kilo of powder and other ingredients which are estimated to be able to make another 1000 packets
- seized a label printer & 6 heat sealers used to package product
- vehicle seizures:
2011 Ford Shelby Mustang
2009 Chevy Impala
2011 Chevy Tahoe
2010 Chevy Camaro
1972 Chevy Malibu
Charges: (both arrested 9-29-11)
L.R.S. 40:966a – manufacture / distribution of synthetic marijuana
L.R.S. 40:967c – possession of cocaine
L.R.S. 40:967c – possession of oxycodone
L.R.S. 40:1023 – possession of drug paraphernalia
L.R.S. 40:966c – possession of marijuana (simple)
L.R.S. 14:95e – possession of a firearm in presence of narcotics
L.R.S. 40:971b.1.e – altering a Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS)
L.R.S. 14:91.13 – illegal use of CDS in presence of person under the age of 17
L.R.S. 14:104 – keeping a disorderly place
Kamal Sbith (266 Meadows Blvd, Slidell)
Business: Goodbee Quick Stop, 16291 Ronald Reagan Highway
- seized 200 packets of “Spice” from store
- seized $449.99 cash from store
Charges: (not arrested – on the run)
L.R.S. 40:966a/c: PWITD synthetic marijuana (1 count, warrant issued)
Arshad A. Tahir (address unknown)
Business: Quick Check, 100 S. Military Rd. Slidell
- seized 369 packets of “Spice” from the business
Charges: (arrested 10-25-11)
L.R.S. 40:966a/c – PWITD synthetic marijuana (1 count)
Jennifer Cozine (4000 Florida St, Apt. C1, Mandeville)
Grant Cozine (4000 Florida St, Apt. C1, Mandeville)
Business: Rusty’s Spirits & Tobacco, 1848 Florida St, Mandeville
– seized 204 packets of “Spice” from store
Charges: (both arrested 10-25-11)
L.R.S. 40:966a/c – PWITD synthetic marijuana (1 count each)
Hassan Aljebouri (6009 Chateau Loire Mandeville)
Business: Discount Zone, 4598 Hwy. 22, Mandeville
- seized 48 packets of “Spice” from store
- seized 212 packets of “Spice” from residence
Charges (arrested 10-25-11)
L.R.S. 40:966a/c – PWITD synthetic marijuana (1 count)
L.R.S. 40:966 – distribution of synthetic marijuana
Ronald Chow (241 South Tallowood Dr, Covington)
Luisa Chow (241 South Tallowood Dr, Covington)
Business #1: Mandeville Tobacco Plus, 4061 Hwy. 59 Suite B, Mandeville
- seized 2,476 packets of “Spice” from this store
Business #2: T’s Tobacco Plus, 2660 Florida St, Mandeville
– seized 298 packets of “Spice” from this store
– seized 1,034 packets of “Spice” from the residence
– seized $71,490 cash from residence
– seized four handguns
Charges: (both arrested 10-25-11)
Ronald:
L.R.S. 40:966 – distribution of synthetic marijuana
L.R.S. 40:966a/c – PWITD synthetic marijuana (3 counts)
L.R.S. 14:95e – possession of a firearm in presence of narcotics
L.R.S. 40:1792a – possession of unidentifiable firearm (obliterated serial number)
L.R.S. 40:1041c – unlawful transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses
L.R.S. 40:969 – possession of Sch. IV CDS
Luisa:
L.R.S. 40:966a/c – PWITD synthetic marijuana (3 counts)
L.R.S. 14:95e – possession of a firearm in presence of narcotics
L.R.S. 40:1792a – possession of unidentifiable firearm (obliterated serial number)
L.R.S. 40:1041c – unlawful transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses
L.R.S. 40:969 – possession of Sch. IV CDS
Ajit Saini (244 Masters Point Court, Slidell)
Veena Saini (244 Masters Point Court, Slidell)
Business: Jack’s Discount Cigarettes, 4438 Ponchartrain Drive, Slidell,
– seized 90 packets of “Spice” from business
– seized $814.00 cash from business
Charges: (both arrested 10-25-11)
L.R.S. 40:966a/c – PWITD synthetic marijuana (1 count each)
Adil Elbashad (1420 Eastwood Dr. Slidell)
Business: Bashad Express, 2802 Hwy. 190, Lacombe
– seized 353 packets of “Spice” from business
– seized $7,000 cash from residence
– seized 2001 Chevy pickup truck
Charges: (not arrested – on the run)
L.R.S. 40:966a/c – PWITD synthetic marijuana (1 count)
L.R.S. 40:967 – distribution of synthetic marijuana (1 count)
Ahmed Atta (address unknown)
Jamal Salhoot AKA Jimmy Martin (address unknown)
Business: Market Liquors One Stop, 39499 Hwy 190 E, Slidell
– seized 472 packets of “Spice” from the business
Charges: (both arrested 10-25-11)
L.R.S. 40:966a/c – PWITD synthetic marijuana (1 count each)
Richard Quamme (287 Bluebird Ln, Amite, LA)
Amanda Wilkes (287 Bluebird Ln, Amite, LA)
– seized 1 kilo of powder imported illegally from China to manufacture “Spice”
- seized approx. 2,000 packets of “Spice” to be shipped out of state for sale
- seized $32,000 cash
Charges: (arrested 7-28-11)
L.R.S. 40:966a/c – PWITD synthetic marijuana (1 count each)
L.R.S. 40:1023 – possession of drug paraphernalia
L.R.S. 40:1041c – possession of proceeds from illegal drug transactions
Miatha Nguyet Hang (11 Pin Oak Circle, Covington – DOB: 6/1/66)
– seized 178 packets of “Spice” from residence
– seized $500 cash from residence
– seized 2 vehicles (Toyota pickup & Lincoln Aviator)
Charges: (arrested 8-10-11)
L.R.S. 40:966 – distribution of synthetic marijuana (4 counts)
The St. Tammany Parish Narcotics Task Force is comprised of law enforcement personnel from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Mandeville Police Department and the Slidell Police Department.
Sun Man Sent to Hospital Following Domestic Dispute
Friday, October 21st, 2011An early Wednesday morning domestic dispute resulted in a Sun man being sent to University Hospital for a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
At approximately 12:20 a.m. on Wednesday, October 19th, 911 call takers received a frantic call from a female requesting deputies be sent to an address on Hwy 21 in Sun. The call was lost, but dispatchers managed again to make contact shortly afterwards. The female caller said that she and her husband were involved in an altercation after which the man shot himself.
Deputies arriving at the scene found the suspect/victim, identified as Cliff Ronald Ritchie (W/M – 84220 Hwy 21, Sun – D.O.B. – 06/01/1980), standing outside the residence. Ritchie was found to have a gunshot wound to the side of his head. Ritchie was also extremely uncooperative and combative with the deputies. At one point, Ritchie threatened deputies and ran toward a wooded area near the home. Following a short foot pursuit, Ritchie turned and charged at the deputies. The ensuing struggle resulted in Ritchie being tazed three times. Ritchie was finally subdued and placed in handcuffs; however, he continued to be uncooperative and fought with Acadian Ambulance paramedics while they attempted to treat him.
Ritchie’s wife informed deputies that Ritchie was drinking alcohol heavily that evening. Afterwards, during an argument, Ritchie took a .22 rifle and pointed it at his wife. Ritchie fired several shots inside the residence and fought with his father-in-law (who was staying at the residence). During the struggle with his father-in-law over the rifle, Ritchie managed to fire off several more rounds before exiting the residence and shooting himself in the head.
Ritchie was later airlifted to University Hospital were he was listed in good condition. Arrest warrants have been obtained for Ritchie and, following his release from the hospital, he will be booked with the following:
L.R.S. 14:94 Illegal Use of Weapons
L.R.S. 14:37.4 Aggravated Assault with Firearm
L.R.S. 14:95.1 Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon
L.R.S. 14:108 Resisting an Officer
