Police: Man caught with over $3, 000 in drug money outside home tattoo parlor

A 25-year-old Morgan City man was caught Thursday outside of an alleged illegal tattoo parlor at a Morgan City home with more than $3,000 in cash believed to have been derived from illegal drug sales, police said in a news release.
Larandan K. Hawkins, 25, of Southeast Boulevard in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 9:21 p.m. Thursday on the charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of synthetic cannabinoids, transactions involving proceeds from controlled dangerous substance activity, violation of controlled dangerous substance law and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The Morgan City Police Department Narcotics Division along with the patrol officers were dispatched to a residence Fifth Street in regard to an illegal tattoo parlor at the residence, police said. When officers arrived they observed a subject, later identified as Hawkins sitting in a vehicle outside the residence, police said.
As officers approached, they observed suspected marijuana on the center console. Hawkins was asked to exit the vehicle. Hawkins subsequently gave officers consent to search is vehicle. Officers located more suspected marijuana, drug paraphernalia, suspected synthetic marijuana and a large amount of currency, police said.
Hawkins was asked why he was in the area and stated he was there to get a tattoo, but no one would answer at the residence, police said. Hawkins was jailed.