By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

HAHNVILLE — In a recent crackdown on area stores peddling alcohol or tobacco to minors, the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office juvenile division cited 16 retail clerks for illegally selling the substances to underage operatives.

Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange, public information officer for the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office, said the juvenile division randomly conducts compliance checks of area retail stores in an effort to make it more difficult for alcohol and tobacco to get into the hands of underage kids. It is illegal to sell tobacco to people under 18 and alcohol to people under 21.

“We are just doing what we can to curtail underage drinking and smoking,” LaGrange said.

LaGrange said officers conducted the compliance check at 30 stores parish wide during the October 22 operation. He said clerks that did not comply with the law were issued a misdemeanor summons. He said the information collected in the operation is turned over to the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.

“The store is cited through our agency and theirs,” said LaGrange. “Places that receive multiple complaints could eventually end up shut down.”

According to a release from the Sheriff’s Office, those booked in the sting include:

– Diamelia Giffini, 23, 1329 Paul Frederick St., Luling, at Jif’s on River Road in Luling

– Randah Avoy, 35, 12325 River Rd., Luling, at Sean Market in Luling

– Robert Corey, 56, 49 Manor Ln., Waggaman, at Country Corner in Luling

– Shantell Smith, 30, 248 E. 14th St., Edgard, at Spur’s in Luling

– Anita Larousse, 49, 121 Lussan Ln., Luling, at Economy Supermarket in Hahnville

– Layeeq Mohammed, 35, 423 Apollo Dr., Metairie, at Lakewood Shell in Luling

– Krista Chauvin, 19, 205 Davis Dr., Luling, at the Winn Dixie Supermarket in Luling

– Erica Adams, 18, 1000 Gassen St., Luling, at the Wal-Mart in Luling

– Carmeleta Alexander, 24, 100 Lance Ln. #B7, Luling, at Champion’s Exxon in Boutte

– Atef Magrad, 21, 366 Monarch Dr. #B, Houma, at Pardner Shell in Boutte

– Tammy Soudelier, 43, 191 Maloney Rd., Des Allemands, at Jubilee Chevron in Des Allemands

– Thanh Nguyen, 43, 2420 Carrie Ln., Marrero, at Time Saver in Paradis

– Michele Green, 40, 220 Historic West St., Garyville, at Longview Shell in Destrehan

– Bonnie Nix, 62, 1342 Huron Ave., Metairie, at Big River Shell

– Quinnel Perilloux, 24, 245 Mockingbird Ln., St. Rose, at the St. Rose Travel Center in St. Rose

– Heath Sandlin, 22, 377 Rosedale Dr., Destrehan, at the Ormond Time Saver in Destrehan

On the other side of the coin, LaGrange said 14 stores in the area were commended for complying with the law and refusing to sell to juveniles. Those stores included Harry’s One Stop in Montz, Birdies in Hahnville, Friendly Food Store in New Sarpy, RaceTrac and Circle K in Boutte, Winn Dixie, Circle K, Carolyn Drive Shell and Kart-N-Karry in Destrehan, and Brothers, RaceTrac, CVS, Valero and St. Rose Food Mart in St. Rose.