By MONIQUE ROTH
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – A month-long collaborative investigation by the narcotics divisions of St. John the Baptist and Tangipahoa Parishes recently led to the arrest of three people.

On March 19 at approximately 7 a.m., St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office narcotic detectives conducted a traffic stop and recovered more than one pound of marijuana from a vehicle.

Detectives arrested the driver, Allen Zydallas, 40, of Pon chatoula and the passenger, Christina McGuire, 28, of LaPlace.

The arrests culminated a one-month long narcotics investigation conducted in conjunction with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Over the course of the investigation, detectives learned that large amounts of marijuana were being transported from Zydallas’s residence in Ponchatoula to St. John the Baptist Parish.

Based on the findings of the traffic stop, St. John Parish detectives contacted Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office narcotics detectives and the cooperative investigation led to the execution of a search warrant at Zydallas’ residence, located at 28446 Vintage Lane in Ponchatoula.

As a result of the search, agents located approximately 7.25 pounds of marijuana inside the residence, approximately 50 grams of cocaine, prescription medication, digital scales, packaging material and cash in the amount of $4,644. The value of the narcotics and cash exceeded $12,900.

At the time of the search, Sandra Ann Zydallas, 35, and a juvenile child were home at the residence.

Sandra Ann Zydallas was arrested and the child was placed in the custody of a family member. Detectives later learned that two other juveniles live at the residence. All of the narcotics seized from the residence were located where any one of the children could have accessed them and harmed themselves.

Sandra Ann Zydallas was charged with possession with intent to distribute schedule I controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute schedule II controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of legend drug without prescription and three counts of illegal use/possession of a controlled substance in the presence of person under the age of 17.

McGuire was booked with distribution/manufacture of schedule I controlled substance. She remains in custody in St. John Parish in lieu of a $25,000 bond.

Allen Zydallas was booked with distribution/manufacture of schedule I controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and turn signals required. He remains in custody in St. John Parish in lieu of a $51,750 bond. Upon his release, he will be transported to the Tangipahoa Parish jail and charged with possession with intent to distribute schedule I controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute schedule II controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of legend drug without prescription and three counts of illegal use/possession of a controlled substance in the presence of person under the age of 17.