(Update) Federal agents raid St. John location associated with sports super fan & “It Takes Lives To Save Lives”
Published 2:31 pm Wednesday, October 24, 2018
- Jordy Robertson
LAPLACE — The mother of Jarrius “J.J.” Robertson is adamant her son has nothing to do with the recent raid of “It Takes Lives To Save Lives,” a foundation launched by Jarrius’ father, Jordy Robertson.
Patricia Henry told L’OBSERVATEUR Jordy put Jarrius’ name on the foundation.
“Jarrius doesn’t run that foundation, doesn’t own that foundation and gets nothing from that foundation,” Henry said. “I can’t stop his dad from putting his pictures up. I’ve tried, but it doesn’t happen. I can protect my child’s name. He has nothing to do with that foundation. It’s all his dad.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and various local agencies raided LaPlace and Reserve locations today (Oct. 24) associated with Jordy Robertson and “It Takes Lives To Save Lives.”
Jordy Robertson did not respond to L’OBSERVATEUR calls and texts seeking comment.
Henry stressed Jarrius, who is 16, lives with her in Donaldsonville.
“I don’t know what is going on with his dad or what’s going on with the federal investigation,” Henry said, telling L’OBSERVATEUR as of 4:15 p.m. Oct. 24 that Jarrius was unaware of the media attention caused by the DEA raids earlier in the day.
“I haven’t sat down to talk to him about it, because I am trying to figure out how I am going to tell him this,” she said. “He doesn’t even have a cell phone or laptop at the moment. They are not really talking about his dad or who did whatever. They are putting it on Jarrius, like Jarrius is grown and running the foundation. He is only 16.”
Henry said she would reserve comment about the law enforcement raid of It Takes Lives To Save Lives, but did say, “I’m not surprised.”
Debbie Webber, DEA spokeswoman for the New Orleans field division, said there is an ongoing federally led investigation, which led to today’s law enforcement action.
Webber said no arrests were made, all warrants are sealed and she does not know when they will be unsealed.
Webber would not comment on the investigation’s focus or progress, but did note locations served with a warrant were for the foundation’s LaPlace office and Jordy Robertson’s Reserve home.
The St. John Sheriff’s Office played a back up role in the law enforcement action, where Sheriff Mike Tregre noted a number of federal agents were involved.
The New Orleans Advocate reported “the limited-liability company — dubbed It Takes Lives to Save Lives — is not in good standing with the state after failing to file an annual report.”
Jarrius Robertson was born with a chronic liver disease called biliary atresia. He underwent a partial liver transplant when he was 1, then spent a year in a coma.
The condition not only threatened his life, it also stunted his growth to give him the appearance of a young child.
His personality has not diminished, however.
He was adopted by the Saints as their No. 1 fan and quickly became a media sensation.
“He is living life, loving life,” Jordy Robertson told L’OBSERVATEUR last year. “He’s been given a second chance at life.”
Jarrius has become a national sensation with the foundation’s efforts to educate the public about the importance of organ donation, with Jarrius front and center in numerous regional and national broadcast events.