Sheriff: 10th arrest in drug investigation

A 46-year-old Morgan City man charged Wednesday with possession of methamphetamine is the 10th arrest in a nearly two-month drug investigation, during which one of the suspects fled into Bayou Boeuf on April 15, according to authorities.
—Stephen Guarisco, 46, of the 1000 block of Florence Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:46 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Guarisco turned himself in at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release. Guarisco was released after posting $1,500 bail. The warrant stems from a monthlong investigation into the sale of methamphetamines in St. Mary Parish.
During a search for a suspect wanted for distributing illegal drugs, detectives received a tip that the suspect was at a residence on Florence Street, Hebert said. Detectives received consent to search the residence and located crystal meth and items of drug paraphernalia. Guarisco was not at his residence at the time of the search and a warrant was issued for his arrest, Hebert said.
Guarisco’s arrest is the 10th arrest in connection with a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division I investigation, which developed information that James Guerin Jr., 36, of Calumet, was selling crystal meth in the area. Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Traci Landry said Guarisco’s arrest is the final one authorities expect to make in connection to the investigation.
On April 15, Guerin fled from authorities into a bayou. During the subsequent search for Guerin, detectives received information that he was at a residence on Florence Street in Morgan City. Detectives received consent to search the residence and observed a bag of methamphetamine and a bag of marijuana in the house, Hebert said.
Detectives also located Soma pills and items of drug paraphernalia, including a scale, a pipe used to smoke methamphetamine, plastic baggies, and rolling papers.
Guerin was arrested April 17 on a warrant for distribution of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana fourth offense, among other charges. Guerin’s girlfriend, Joni Madison, 34, of Calumet, was also arrested on the charge of obstruction of justice for aiding Guerin in evading capture by authorities.
Continuing the investigation into Guerin’s involvement in illegal drug activity, detectives learned that Guerin conspired with Madison and Jason Cooper, 37, of Berwick, to conduct street level sales of a substantial amount of crystal meth in St. Mary Parish, Hebert said.
On May 4, narcotics detectives, along with members of the Morgan City Police Department Narcotics Division, executed a search warrant at Cooper’s residence in Berwick and located several bags of methamphetamine.
Detectives also collected evidence that Guerin conspired with Madison and John Buck Jr., 28, of Ricohoc, to smuggle tobacco, rolling papers, lighters, mobile phones, and mobile phone chargers into the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center in Centerville where Guerin was incarcerated, Hebert said.
Detectives intercepted a package delivered by Madison and Buck. Detectives retrieved the package and found the contraband items, the sheriff said.
Other arrests in this investigation included Brandy L. Fields, 34, of Morgan City, Tyler Brewer, 22, of Patterson, James Aucoin, 32, of Berwick, Brooke McManus, 23, of Berwick, and Jordon Bourque, 27, of Abbeville.
Hebert reported responding to 46 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Darin Hannigan, 36, of the 300 block of Clark Street in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 6:26 p.m. Wednesday on the charge of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division detectives conducted a traffic stop on Clark Street on an SUV after observing the driver cross over the center line and travel in the middle of the roadway, Hebert said.
Detectives made contact with the driver, Hannigan. While speaking with Hannigan, detectives received consent to search the vehicle and located bags of methamphetamine and two glass pipes used to smoke meth, Hebert said. Hannigan was jailed with bail set.
—Lee Boudreaux, 41, of the 200 block of North Verrett Street in Amelia, was arrested at 12:25 a.m. today on the charges of operation of a clandestine laboratory, violation of uniform controlled dangerous substances law (drug free zone), manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
While investigating a complaint of illegal drug activity in Amelia, a patrol division deputy observed a one pot methamphetamine lab inside a car on North Verrett Street and called in narcotics detectives to continue the investigation, Hebert said.
Detectives learned that the vehicle belonged to Boudreaux. Detectives made contact with Boudreaux and observed an open box of pseudoephedrine containing a substance consistent with a by-product of manufacturing methamphetamine, the sheriff said.
Detectives received consent to search the car and Boudreaux’s residence and located the “one pot” methamphetamine lab and several methamphetamine manufacturing precursors including multiple packages of cold medicine, Hebert said.
Detectives also located a white powdery substance which tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine, Hebert said. Boudreaux’s residence and vehicle, where the lab and precursors were found, is located near an elementary school. Detectives transported Boudreaux to the parish jail for booking. No bail is set.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported no arrests.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.

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