Local man linked to Reserve drug sting

Published 12:05 am Wednesday, November 22, 2017

RESERVE — Stefoin Cocky Francois, 29, wanted for illegal drugs and weapon violations, was arrested last week.

Picked up Thursday, the Reserve man was the last of seven suspects, according to the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, apprehended in an illegal drugs investigation the SJSO Special Operations detectives began in late October.

Others arrested on Nov. 9 were Kemone Jermaine Clofer, 26, of Reserve; Jamal L. Joseph, 30, of Reserve; Carey Michael King Jr., 31, of Kenner; Jasmine Shnarayuan Beverlyshea Morgan, 24, of LaPlace; and Vinita Vonkese Cambre, 29, of Reserve.

Derrence Jamal Greenup, 31, of LaPlace was arrested Nov. 12.

After an investigation into the distribution of illegal narcotics from a housing complex apartment in Reserve, members of the Special Operations Division executed a search warrant Nov. 9 in the 200 block of East 13th Street.

Upon executing the court warrant, the suspects attempted to flee the residence. Detectives immediately apprehended King, Clofer, Joseph, Cambre and Morgan.

A search of the residence resulted in the recovery of cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana packaged for sale, drug paraphernalia and two firearms.

Detectives then obtained felony arrest warrants for Greenup and Francois, who fled as detectives approached the apartment.

Greenup, who the investigation was centered around, was apprehended in Kenner by the U.S. Marshals Task Force and Kenner Police Department officers after receiving information on his whereabouts.

Francois turned himself in Thursday.

Clofer, Greenup, King and Joseph are convicted felons, according to the Sheriff’s Office, with lengthy criminal histories involving drugs, illegal carrying of weapons and crimes of violence.

Francois was booked with marijuana distribution, methamphetamine distribution, cocaine distribution, violation of uniform controlled dangerous substances law – drug free zone and two counts of illegal carrying of a weapon. He is being held in custody in lieu of a $233,169.50 bond.

Clofer, Joseph, King, Morgan, Cambre and Greenup also remain in custody.