$1M LaPlace Xanax ring busted
Published 1:29 pm Tuesday, January 19, 2016
- Authorities presented part of their seizure Tuesday, which included thousands of Xanax pills.
LAPLACE — A local man acting as a lead distributor helped funnel more than 220,000 Xanax pills through LaPlace, the greater United States and possible international locations, authorities said.
Matthew Helms
St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre, during a Tuesday morning press conference, announced some details of the operation, which as of this week, led to 11 arrests and the seizure of $1 million in controlled substances, some of which were displayed to the media Tuesday.
The case began when Sheriff’s Office narcotics detectives received information that led to two searches Jan. 5.
The first search warrant was executed at 1:16 p.m. at a residence in the 100 block of Oak Fern Court in LaPlace, where detectives recovered approximately 100,000 pills of alprazolam, the trade name Xanax, and packaging for distribution throughout the United States.
Detectives arrested Matthew Helms, 23, and Megan De St. Germaine, 26. Helms and De St. Germaine live at the residence.
The second search warrant was executed at 1:52 p.m. at a residence in the 500 block of Walnut Street in LaPlace, where detectives recovered more than 10,400 doses of alprazplam and packaging for distribution.
Detectives arrested Brandon Zar, 24, who lives at the residence.
Authorities said the investigation led detectives to arrest six suspects for conspiring to distribute or possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
“The investigation began after detectives received information from a confidential source that Matthew Helms was involved in distributing large quantities of Xanax,” Tregre said.
“The main suspect in the investigation is Matthew Helms, a resident of St. John Parish.”
Local detectives worked with the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division because one suspect, Matthew Gul, who police say was working with Helms, is a St. Charles Parish resident.
According to Tregre, the Xanax packages were being mailed to the conspirators’ residences.
“Once the main supplier got the package from the conspirator, he would distribute the Xanax all over the country,” Tregre said.
Through the investigation it was determined the main distribution source was through the U.S. Postal Service. Authorities are still trying to determine if the Xanax was distributed internationally.
Police are not releasing where the drugs were manufactured because it is an ongoing investigation and additional arrests are possible, Tregre said, adding he does not believe the drugs were being made in St. John.
Sheriff’s Office announced arrests:
Detectives booked Matthew Helms with possession with intent to distribute alprazolam, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of suboxone and possession of marijuana.
He remains in custody in lieu of a $311,500 bond. Helms was arrested six times in St. John the Baptist Parish since April 2012.
Detectives booked Megan De St. Germaine with possession with intent to distribute alprazolam, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of suboxone and possession of marijuana. She remains in custody in lieu of an $83,000 bond.
Detectives booked Brandon Zar with possession with intent to distribute alprazolam and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released from jail Jan. 13 on a $51,500 bond. Zar was arrested five times in St. John the Baptist Parish since November 2010.
Detectives booked Austin Hammond, 20, of LaPlace with attempt or conspire to distribute or possess with intent to distribute schedule IV CDS, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released from jail Jan. 15 on a $53,000 bond.
Detectives booked Courtney Simon, 20, of LaPlace with attempt or conspire to distribute or possess with intent to distribute schedule IV CDS. She was released from jail Jan. 13 on a $50,000 bond.
Detectives booked Joshua Sutton, 23, of LaPlace with attempt or conspire to distribute or possess with intent to distribute schedule IV CDS. He remains in custody in lieu of a $50,000 bond.
Detectives booked Katie Cahill, 22, of LaPlace with attempt or conspire to distribute or possess with intent to distribute schedule IV CDS. She was released from jail Jan. 13 on a $50,000 bond.
Detectives booked Michael Keller, 20, of St. James with attempt or conspire to distribute or possess with intent to distribute schedule IV CDS. He was released from jail Jan. 13 on a $50,000 bond.
Detectives booked Pamela De St. Germaine, 51, of LaPlace with attempt or conspire to distribute or possess with intent to distribute schedule IV CDS. She was released from jail Jan. 13 on a $10,000 bond.
