By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

ST. ROSE — St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested nine illegal immigrants from Mexico and one U.S. citizen on Wednesday, after a tip was given to them alluding to drug sales out of a house on Turtle Creek Lane in St. Rose.

Sheriff Greg Champagne said after information was given to the Sheriff’s Office, they did some investigation and gathered enough evidence to get a search warrant.

Champagne said during the search, officers found a .38 caliber Smith/Wesson handgun, a .380 handgun, a 4-10 shot gun, 42 grams of marijuana, 157 grams of cocaine, $1,024 in U.S. Currency, a New Orleans Police Department Jacket and fraudulent forms of identification.

According to information from the Sheriff’s Office, 42 grams of marijuana is street-valued at $300 and 157 grams of cocaine is street-valued at around $16,000.

&#8220All of the male subjects were illegal Mexican immigrants,” Champagne said. &#8220The one girl arrested was the only U.S. citizen living in the house. The others did not speak English.”

Champagne said there were tools and other material around the house suggesting they were involved in repairing roofs in the area, but that they were clearly involved in drug business.

The U.S. citizen is 28-year old Arial Taylor, who was charged with possession of about 2.5 grams of cocaine and two counts of possession of a firearm with narcotics.

The nine illegal residents arrested were: Jose Ramirez, 34, Albertino Montez, 28, Rocha Sergio, 30, Alfredo Cervontes, 45, Augustine Hernandez,36, 16-year old juvenile whose name cannot be released, Miguel Rivera, 21, Jose Rodriguez, 18, and

37-year old Sebastian Lopez.

Montez and Sergio were charged with the same as Taylor and being held on a $75,000 bond set by Judge Kirk Granier at the Nelson Coleman Correctional Facility in Killona.

The juvenile, Rivera and Rodriguez were all charged with possession with intent of about 145.4 grams of Cocaine, possession of about 2.4 grams of cocaine and two counts of possession with a firearm with narcotics. All three are being held on a $200,000 bond.

Hernandez and Ramirez were charged with possession of cocaine (3.9 grams and 12.9 grams) and possession of a firearm with narcotics (two counts and three counts). Both are being held on a $150,000 bond.

Cervontes and Lopez were charged with possession with intent of cocaine (9 grams and 2 grams), possession of a firearm with narcotics, both with two counts, possession of cocaine (2.5 grams and 9 grams) and possession of marijuana (37.5 grams and 2 grams).

Both are also being held on a $150,000 bond.