Kenner, Lafourche aid in busts of suspects in multi-agency effort

By CALEB FREY

Staff Reporter

ST. CHARLES – The St. Charles Sheriff’s Office, working on tips from the Drug Enforcement Agency, have made four arrests in the past two weeks involving the distribution of cocaine and ecstasy, Sheriff Greg Champagne said Thursday.

Kevin Cavalier, 19, of Bayou Gauche and Michael Wrens Jr., 36, of Houma, were arrested as part of an ongoing investigation involving the DEA, the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Kenner Police Department.

On April 14, St. Charles Parish Agents, along with DEA operatives, arrested Cavalier and Wrens after they were allegedly involved in the purchase of 1,000 tabs of Ecstasy at 13146 Hwy 90 in Boutte.

At the time of their arrest, agents found Cavalier and Wrens to be in possession of a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun, two bundles of Cocaine HCL, each weighing about 3.5 grams, and more than $8,000 in cash.

Cavalier and Wrens were each booked with conspiracy with intent to distribute Ecstasy, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm during the sale of a controlled dangerous substance.

Wrens was released April 17 after posting bond of $10,030. Cavalier was released April 17 after posting a property bond.

Jeffrey Lecourt, 26, of LaPlace and Toria Smith, 20, of Metairie, were arrested Thursday on Hwy 61 in Destrehan after DEA agents witnessed a similar drug transaction take place involving another 1000 tabs of Ecstasy.

Both were booked with conspiracy with intent to distribute Ecstasy.

Lecourt’s bond was been set at $80,000 and Smith’s bond was set at $60,000, both by District Court Judge Robert Chaisson. Both are still currently being held in St. Charles.

Champagne was pleased they were able to make these arrests especially because of the volume involved and the dangers Ecstasy carries with it.

&#8220This Ecstasy has and is becoming a more pervasive drug,” said St. Charles Sheriff Greg Champagne. &#8220It’s an amphetamine and it’s very dangerous.”