Staff Reporter

HAHNVILLE �“ An 11-month undercover narcotics operation conducted by St. Charles Sheriff’s deputies resulted in the arrest of 31 residents parish wide, said Sheriff Greg Champagne.

Champagne said suspects as young as 18 and as old as 74 were taken into custody in connection with the investigation into illegal drug sales in St. Charles, which the Sheriff dubbed “Operation Sleigh Ride.” The arrests began Tuesday morning, when deputies rounded up 25 suspects, and continued throughout the week. The sheriff said more arrests should come well into next week as the investigation continues.

Champagne said most of the arrests centered around distribution of common street drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and heroin, but he said there is an increasing amount of theft and distribution of prescription painkillers, which can also be highly addictive.

Champagne said there have also been numerous suspicious reports of prescription drug theft from residents with lengthy arrest records. He said the alleged victims claim their prescriptions were stolen so that they can file a police report and get an immediate refill.

Those arrested as part of the operation were from all regions in the parish and include the following:

From Boutte:

Kyron Hill, 21, 358 Alexander St., attempted distribution of crack cocaine, theft under $300; Christopher Majors, 25, 237 Goodchildren St., possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest by flight; and Lyncoy Reynaud, 29, 438 Boutte Estates Dr., distribution of crack cocaine.

From Des Allemands:

Roger Hamilton, 18, 16620 Hwy. 90, possession of ecstasy; and Daphne Turner, 24, 165 Mott St., obstruction of justice.

From Destrehan:

Kendell John, 26, 19B Brandon Hall, distribution of crack cocaine.

From Luling:

Jason Anderson, 28, Hackberry Street, distribution of crack cocaine; Kendrick Bailey, 35, 1350 Paul Frederick St., distribution of crack cocaine; Darnell Johnson, 22, 504 Paul Mallard, distribution of crack cocaine; and Arthur Washington, 20, 1034 Paul Frederick St., distribution of crack cocaine

From New Sarpy:

Louis Boyd, 53, 736 East Easy St., three counts of distribution of crack cocaine; Stacy Goodall, 41, 909 East Lawson St., distribution of crack cocaine; Donald Myles, 30, 738 East Easy St., distribution of crack cocaine; and Kernell A. Smith, 22, 846 E. Harding St., three counts of distribution of crack cocaine.

From Norco:

Matthew Anderson, 22, 40 Barreca St., distribution of marijuana, principal to distribution of marijuana, illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of juveniles, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia; James Barton, 23, 817 Second St., distribution of marijuana, illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor; Gregory Brown, 49, 154 Diamond St., two counts of distribution of crack cocaine; Paul Carmouche, 45, 30 Mary St., distribution of crack cocaine; John Dufour, 42, 34 West B St., distribution of marijuana; Blaine J. Hymel Jr., 26, 414 Barreca St., possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to register a pit bull; Angela Lindsey, 38, 10 West B St., five counts of distribution of crack cocaine, two counts of principal to distribution of crack cocaine, possession of hydrocodone, distribution of alprazolam, distribution of oxycodone, possession of drug paraphernalia; Paula Lopez, 34, 324 St. Charles St., distribution of hydrocodone and carisoprodol; Verbisee Maguire, 74, 34 West B St., distribution of oxycodone, illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of juveniles; Rodney Payne, 48, 425 St. Charles St., distribution of crack cocaine; Brandent Sampson, 29, 34 Diamond St., three counts of distribution of crack cocaine; Arnold Silvestri Jr., 22, 47 West B St., three counts of distribution of heroin, distribution of cocaine, distribution of oxycodone; Barbara Sprague, 33, 40 Barreca St., probation and parole warrant; Sharon Vanek, 57, 232 Apple St., distribution of carisoprodol; Tracy Villers, 43, distribution of diazepam, alprazolam and carisoprodol; Lyncarl White, 28, 202 East St., two counts of distribution of heroin; and Kirby Womack, 48, 154 Cathy St., three counts of distribution of hydrocodone, distribution of oxycodone.