Three men have been arrested in an apparent drug bust in Abbeville.
According to Vermilion Parish Sheriff Mike Couvillon and Abbeville Chief of Police Bill Spearman, the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s and Municipal Narcotics Task force conducted a drug raid Friday afternoon in Abbeville.
The raid was the culmination of an extensive undercover operation into the widespread sales of illicit drugs within a certain area on 7th street, according to a spokesman for the sheriff’s office. Narcotics agents secured several felony warrants for distribution of numerous illicit drugs throughout the investigation, and after doing so, obtained search warrants for the persons, area, and residence in question. The spokesman says investigators learned "high grade weapons" were being kept on the persons and property during these drug sales.
Agents, along with officers from several surrounding agencies, conducted the raid, arresting two suspects who were actively selling illicit drugs at the time of the raid. Agents seized crack cocaine, along with high grade marijuana, and were also able to seize a loaded AR-15, which was equipped with a loaded high capacity drum magazine. Arrested at the time of this raid was:
· Jordan Mitchell, 24, of Abbeville, for distribution of Schedule II (crack cocaine), possession with intent to distribute Schedule II (crack cocaine), possession with intent to distribute Schedule I (marijuana), possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of controlled dangerous substance in a drug free zone and transactions involving drug proceeds
· Logan Frederick, 19, of Abbeville, for distribution of Schedule II (crack cocaine)
After concluding this raid, agents with the Task Force, Vermilion Sheriff’s Office CID division, Probation and Parole, along with the Abbeville Police Department, began an extensive search for other suspects that were wanted in connection with the investigation.
Saturday morning, agents received information that 36-year-old Antonio Gilbert, a wanted suspect in the investigation, was allegedly hiding out at a residence on Darabeth Drive in Youngsville. Agents went to the residence and were able to take him into custody.
During a search of the residence, agents recovered crack cocaine, 280 suspected MDMA (ecstasy) pills, marijuana, $1,048 in suspected drug proceeds, several other illegal pills, a 410 Judge shotgun pistol, and a stolen AR-15.
—Gilbert was arrested and charged with distribution of Schedule II (crack cocaine/2 counts), possession of Schedule I, (marijuana), possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to distribute a legend drug and removal of a label from a prescription bottle.
—Michael Broussard, 39, of Youngsville, was also arrested for possession of Schedule I (marijuana), possession with intent to distribute Schedule I (MDMA), possession with intent to distribute Schedule II (crack cocaine), manufacturing of Schedule II, (crack cocaine), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of stolen firearm, transactions derived from drug proceeds and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to a press release, "Sheriff Couvillon and Chief Spearman both credit an unprecedented spirit on working together for one common goal as the success of this raid. Sheriff Couvillon stated, "Departments working together and sharing information allows us to focus on our major threats in our cities and parish and take this criminal element off of the streets".
More arrests are expected.
