Raid nets 400 grams of pot, 140 doses of Ecstasy

Published 12:03 am Saturday, December 24, 2016

RESERVE — More than 400 grams of marijuana and 140 doses of Ecstasy were recovered this week during a Reserve home raid, authorities said.

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office Special Operations detectives conducted the search and seizure Monday at a home in the 400 block of Homewood Place.

Lester Gardner Jr., 34, was arrested and faces a litany of charges, including illegal carrying of a weapon with a controlled dangerous substance, illegal possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of oxycodone, distribution of MDMA and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Lester Gardner Jr.

Lester Gardner Jr.

Sheriff Mike Tregre said a police investigation led to the court-authorized search of the suspect’s house.

During the Reserve search, a release from the Sheriff’s Office noted, detectives recovered more than 400 grams of marijuana, approximately 148 doses of MDMA (commonly known a Ecstasy), a stolen handgun, packaging material for narcotics distribution and “a large amount of cash from drug sales.”

The Sheriff’s Office said Gardner, a convicted felon, was out on bond from a narcotics investigation when he was arrested this week.

Gardner is being held in custody in lieu of a $156,500 bond and a U.S. Marshals Service federal probation hold.