Counterfeiting suspects face more charges

Three Texas men Morgan City police charged July 5 with monetary instrument abuse face five more counts after the men allegedly used counterfeit bills at multiple locations in the Morgan City area, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.
—Antonio R. Benjamin, 20, of Fresno, Texas, was arrested at 2:46 p.m. Friday on a warrant charging him with five counts of monetary instrument abuse.
—Antonio V. Seales, 19, of Fresno, Texas, was arrested at 2:46 p.m. Friday on a warrant charging him with five counts of monetary instrument abuse.
—Clifford R. Niles, 21, of Fresno, Texas, was arrested at 2:46 p.m. Friday on a warrant charging him with five counts of monetary instrument abuse.
Benjamin, Seales, and Niles, who are still incarcerated, were charged on warrants for the Morgan City Police Department. The warrants stem from complaints Morgan City Police received July 4 of counterfeit money being used at different businesses in the area, Blair said.
The Morgan City Police Department Detective Division conducted an investigation and learned of additional businesses where the money was used. The suspects were originally arrested July 5 for allegedly using a counterfeit bill at a restaurant, Blair said. All three were booked and remain in jail.
Blair reported the following arrests:
—Jessica L. Ross, 26, of Levee Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:54 p.m. Monday on a warrant charging her with failure to appear.
Ross, while incarcerated in the Morgan City jail, held an active warrant for the Sixth Ward City Court. Ross was booked and continues to be incarcerated.
—Jerry Charles, 49, of Mount Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:41 p.m. Monday on the charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana with intent to distribute, resisting an officer, no turn signal, transactions involving proceeds of drug offenses and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law.
A patrol officer observed a vehicle in the area of Federal Avenue near Freret Street with improper lighting. The officer stopped the vehicle to investigate. The driver, Charles, gave officers consent to search his vehicle, Blair said.
Officers located several bags of suspected marijuana in the vehicle, Blair said. When officers tried to place Charles under arrest, he pulled away from officers but was subdued a short time later, Blair said. Charles was jailed.
—Josqusha N. Mingo, 29, of Grace Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:19 p.m. Monday on the charge of possession of Schedule I marijuana second offense.
A patrol officer in the area of La. 70 and Brashear Avenue observed a person flagging down vehicles. The officer stopped in the area to speak with the person. The person, Mingo, informed the officer that she was trying to get a ride home, Blair said.
Mingo gave the officer consent to search her purse, and the officer located suspected marijuana inside the purse, Blair said. Mingo was jailed.
—Ramon Hernandez-Esteban, 41, of Morgan City, was arrested at 1:57 p.m. Friday on the charges of no driver’s license, careless operation with an accident, unsafe vehicle and possession of fraudulent documents.
Officers were dispatched to U.S. 90 east near the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard exit in regard to a vehicle crash. Officers spoke with the driver, Hernandez-Esteban. Officers determined he did not have a driver’s license and that paperwork for his vehicle was fraudulent, Blair said. Also, the tires on his vehicle were unsafe, Blair said. Hernandez-Esteban was jailed.
—David J. Belitz, 51, of Morgan City, was arrested at 10:58 a.m. Friday on a warrant charging him with criminal mischief.
Officers located Belitz at a local motel on La. 182. Belitz held an active warrant for the Morgan City Police Department. The warrant stems from an incident July 7 in which Belitz made several calls to 911. All calls were later determined to be false, Blair said. Belitz was jailed.
—John Williams, 28, of La. 182 in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:28 p.m. Friday on the charges of possession of Schedule I synthetic cannabinoids third offense and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law.
Officers were dispatched to the area of Keith Street for a suspicious person in the area, Blair said. Officers located the person, identified as Williams, on Keith Street near a residence.
Williams appeared to be intoxicated, Blair said. Officers located suspected synthetic marijuana on Williams. Williams was jailed.
—Jessica Ross, 26, of Levee Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:57 p.m. Friday on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant charging her with two counts of failure to appear.
Officers located Ross at a residence on Marshall Street. Ross was determined to have an active warrant for the 16th Judicial Court. She was jailed.
—Moses L. Caine, 34, of Houma, was arrested at 9:08 p.m. Friday on the charge of domestic abuse battery.
Officers were dispatched to a residence on Idaho Street in regard to a domestic disturbance. When officers arrived, they spoke to the victim, who stated that she and her boyfriend, Caine, were having a verbal altercation that turned physical.
The victim stated that Caine struck her in the face and threw her to the ground, Blair said. Officers observed marks on the victim consistent to her statements. Caine was located in the residence and jailed.
—Kevin W. Flowers, 24, of Garner, North Carolina, was arrested at 12:34 a.m. Saturday on the charge of simple criminal damage to property.
Officers were dispatched to a local motel on Roderick Street in regard to someone damaging property.
When officers arrived, witnesses stated that a suspect had damaged a urinal in the restroom, Blair said.
Officers located the suspect, identified as Flowers, on the premises. According to the police report, Flowers admitted to pulling the urinal off the wall, Blair said. Flowers was jailed.
—Bryan K. Wright, 41, of Gray, was arrested at 9:47 a.m. Saturday on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant charging him with failure to appear for trial.
Officers located Wright at a motel and determined that he held an active warrant for the 16th Judicial Court. He was jailed.
—Davonte J. Williams, 23, of Franklin, was arrested at 9:26 a.m. Saturday on warrants charging him with home invasion, domestic abuse battery and criminal damage to property.
While incarcerated in the Morgan City jail, Williams was booked on the warrants. The warrants stem from an incident where Williams allegedly kicked in a door to a residence, committed a battery on the victim and damaged the victim’s cell phone.
—Justin C. Lovell, 19, of Pecos Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:55 p.m. Saturday on the charges of driving under suspension and two brake lights required.
A patrol officer observed a vehicle in the area of Glenwood and Roderick streets with improper lighting. Police conducted a traffic stop, and the driver, Lovell, was determined to have a suspended driver’s license. Lovell was jailed.
—Tammy Adams, 53, of General Hodges Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:41 p.m. Saturday on the charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of controlled dangerous substance law.
—Angela Pitre, 50, of General Hodges Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:41 p.m. Saturday on the charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana, possession of Schedule II methamphetamine, possession of Schedule II hydrocodone, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law, operation of clandestine laboratory and possession of drug paraphernalia.
—Walter Talbert, 49, of General Hodges Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:41 p.m. Saturday on the charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana, possession of Schedule I methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, operation of clandestine laboratory, violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Morgan City Police received information of a possible clandestine lab in operation at a residence on General Hodges Street. When officers arrived at the location, Talbert, Pitre and Adams were inside the residence.
Officers observed items used to smoke illegal narcotics, Blair said. Officers subsequently got consent to search the residence from the owner.
During the investigation, officers located chemicals used to make methamphetamine throughout the residence, Blair said.
Suspected methamphetamine, pills identified as hydrocodone, suspected marijuana and a firearm were all found in the residence, Blair said. Talbert, Pitre and Adams were all jailed with no bail set.
—Seth Wright, 36, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:41 p.m. Saturday on the charges of simple criminal damage to property, resisting an officer and appearing in public intoxicated.
Officers were dispatched to a business on Youngs Road in regard to property being damaged. When officers arrived, witnesses stated that a suspect was seen throwing an object that landed on a vehicle causing one of the vehicle’s windows to shatter, Blair said.
Officers located the suspect, identified as Wright, in the area. Officers observed a strong smell of alcoholic beverage on Wright’s breath, Blair said. As officers tried to arrest Wright, he tried to pull away from officers, Blair said. He was later subdued and jailed.
—Kern A. Stephens, 54, of Sixth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:33 p.m. Saturday on the charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and license plate light required.
A patrol officer in the area of Greenwood Street and Federal Avenue observed a vehicle with improper lighting. A traffic stop was conducted. The officer noticed a strong odor of alcohol on the driver, Stephens’ breath, Blair said.
Stephens refused to perform a field sobriety test, Blair said. Stephens was transported to the Police Department. Stephens registered 0.182 grams-percent blood alcohol content on a chemical test. Stephens was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 38 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrest in east St. Mary Parish:
—Aimee Bernardo DeJesus, 29, of the 100 block of Janet Lane in Amelia, was arrested at 1:21 p.m. Monday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of direct contempt, failure to use seatbelts, and failure to honor written promise to appear. A deputy made contact with DeJesus at her residence and located the active warrant for her arrest, Hebert said. DeJesus was jailed and released on $100 bail.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.

This story was written by Zachary Fitzgerald of The Daily Review staff. Reach him at zfitzgerald@daily-review.com.