Sheriff: Five charged in drug smuggling scheme

Five members of a family were charged Wednesday with a scheme to smuggle drugs into the St. Mary Parish jail, Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
—Brian J. Derouen, 28, of Bayou Vista, was additionally charged at 3:53 p.m. Wednesday at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center on a warrant for entering contraband into a penal facility.
—Brad J. Derouen, 25, of the 1200 block of South Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 2:42 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for entering contraband into a penal facility.
—Rhonda Derouen, 48, of the 1200 block of South Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 2:42 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant charging her with entering contraband into a penal facility.
—Harley N. Rentrop, 22, of the 1200 block of South Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 2:42 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for distribution of Schedule III suboxone and entering contraband into a penal facility.
—Jessica C. Bourgeois, 35, of the 800 block of Two Brothers Street in Amelia, was arrested at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant charging her with distribution of synthetic cannabinoids.
A narcotics division detective conducting two separate investigations into contraband intercepted at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center arrested a mother, her two sons, and one of the sons’ girlfriends as well as the supplier of some of the contraband.
In early February, the jail security team found suboxone strips hidden on greeting card envelops that were mailed to the jail. The detective gathered several pieces of evidence indicating that Rentrop sent the drugs to the facility with the intent of supplying Brian Derouen with the contraband.
Later in the month, jail security also intercepted two packages that were dropped in an area of the jail that is open to the public. The packages contained synthetic cannabinoids, marijuana, tobacco and rolling papers.
The detective discovered evidence that Rhonda Derouen, Brad Derouen and Rentrop conspired with inmate Brian Derouen to drop the packages at the facility. Rhonda Derouen is Brian and Brad Derouen’s mother. Rentrop is Brad Derouen’s girlfriend. The narcotics detective also developed evidence that Bourgeois supplied the synthetic drugs found in the packages.
Rentrop was arrested earlier this week for her involvement in the drop scheme. Brian Derouen was already incarcerated at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center and charged on the warrant. Rhonda Derouen and Rentrop were located at the Morgan City Police Department jail where they were bonding out Rentrop who was there on the previous charges. Bourgeois was located at her residence on the warrant. The subjects were transported to the parish jail for booking. No bail is set.
“I have zero tolerance for those seeking to introduce contraband into the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center,” Hebert said in the news release. “Inmates and anyone found aiding them in smuggling contraband will face criminal charges. I commend the jail security team and narcotics investigators for intercepting these items and for their work in solving the cases.”
Hebert reported responding to 36 complaints in the parish and reported responding to the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Tommy McNally, 45, of the 1300 block of Middle Road in Bayou Vista, at 10:17 p.m. Wednesday for violation of protective orders. A deputy developed information that McNally made contact with a subject who had a temporary restraining order in place against him. McNally was located at the St. Mary Parish Courthouse in Franklin and jailed with no bail set.
—Jakeysha Broussard, 31, of the 100 block of South Myrtle Street in Abbeville, at 11:57 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant charging her with theft. On Sept. 21, 2015, a detective responded to a complaint of a theft that occurred at a business that cashes checks in Amelia.
The detective learned from the complainant that Broussard cashed a $2,742 insurance check that was verified first by the business, but then returned with a stop payment notice. The detective discovered that Broussard herself requested the stop payment and that the insurance company issued her a second check, which she cashed at a location outside the parish.
The detective obtained a warrant for Broussard’s arrest. A deputy responding to an unrelated complaint Wednesday on Grace Street in Amelia made contact with Broussard and located the active warrant for her arrest. Broussard was jailed with no bail set.
—Kevin Hoang, 41, of the 3500 block of La. 182 in Berwick, at 8:44 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of driving while intoxicated, stop sign violation and turn signal required. A deputy dispatched to a complaint of a reckless driver on U.S. 90 in Bayou Vista located the suspect vehicle on Southeast Boulevard.
The deputy observed the driver run a stop sign and fail to signal a turn. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Hoang. The deputy smelled the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath along with several other indicators of impairment.
The deputy conducted a field sobriety test on which Hoang performed poorly. Hoang later registered a 0.165 grams-percent blood alcohol concentration. Hoang was jailed with no bail set.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:
—Shanice L. Marshall, 23, of Maine Street in Morgan City, at 10:08 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant charging her with probation violation.
Marshall was transported to the Morgan City Police Department from the 6th Ward City Court on an active warrant. Marshall was jailed.
—Dijon Bell, 21, of James Street in Franklin, at 10:25 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of driving under suspension, no insurance, two headlights required, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.
—Terrill O. Johnson, 19, of Plantation Tech Road in Franklin, at 10:25 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A patrol officer in the area of Greenwood and Ninth streets observed a vehicle with improper lighting and conducted a traffic stop.
The driver, Bell, had a suspended driver’s license and no vehicle insurance. While asking the passenger, Johnson, to exit the vehicle, officers observed suspected marijuana on the floor of the vehicle, along with drug paraphernalia, Blair said. Both Bell and Johnson were jailed.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrest:
—Joyce Triggs, 61, of the 800 block of Tall Timber in Patterson, at 10:03 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant charging her with disturbing the peace by language. Triggs was jailed on $217 bail.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.