A Louisiana mayor was arrested on Tuesday for his alleged connection to a drug-trafficking investigation carried out by authorities in his house state.
Bogalusa Mayor Tyrin Truong, 25, was arrested and charged with participating in transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses, solicitation of prostitutes and unauthorized use of a movable, which refers to deliberately taking or utilizing one’s private property with out their consent.
“We have zero tolerance for wrongdoing, especially from public officials,” Louisiana Lawyer Normal Liz Murrill mentioned.
“I’m very proud of all our law enforcement agencies who worked on this investigation.”
Louisiana State Police mentioned its Narcotics and Violent Crime Job Power launched an investigation right into a drug-trafficking group (DTO) working within the Bogalusa space in April 2024.
The operation was carried out over a number of months in collaboration with the twenty second Judicial District Courtroom District Lawyer’s Workplace, Murrill’s workplace and the Louisiana Division of Environmental High quality.
The investigation discovered the DTO was allegedly concerned within the distribution of opioids, high-grade marijuana, THC merchandise and MDMA, amongst different managed harmful substances.
Investigators additionally discovered that members of the group used social media platforms to distribute medication and handle funds, which allowed them to broaden their attain and felony exercise, police mentioned.
The income from drug gross sales have been allegedly used to buy firearms, a few of which have been distributed to people prohibited by legislation from possessing a firearm, and others have been linked to violent crimes within the Bogalusa space.
Legislation enforcement officers obtained and executed a number of search and arrest warrants, resulting in the arrests of seven alleged members of the group.
Police additionally arrested 24-year-old MacKenzie Lynn Cefalu; 24-year-old De-Saleem Wali Pittman; 22-year-old Dirul S. Pittman; 26-year-old Salehal-Dien Malike Pittman; 51-year-old Tonya Renee Stage; and 28-year-old Devan Michael Williams, all from Bogalusa.
Like Truong, the opposite six suspects have been arrested for participating in transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses.
Moreover, Cefalu, Stage, Williams and D-Saleem Wali Pittman have been charged with conspiring to distribute a schedule I managed harmful substance, with the latter additionally being charged with distribution of a schedule II managed harmful substance.
All seven suspects have been booked into the Washington Parish Jail.
State police mentioned quite a few different issues and people proceed to be underneath investigation in reference to the investigation.
“We are going to continue to invest time and resources into helping the citizens of Bogalusa,” District Lawyer Collin Sims mentioned. “We are not finished.”
Truong’s bond was set at $150,000 on Tuesday afternoon, FOX 8 in New Orleans reported.
Truong’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for touch upon the matter.
At age 23, Truong grew to become the mayor of Bogalusa in 2022, ousting town’s incumbent, Wendy O’Quin Perrette, who was elected to her first time period in 2014.
By successful the election, Truong grew to become town’s youngest mayor in historical past in addition to one among Louisiana’s youngest mayors ever, NOLA.com reported.
