More Vermilion Drug Busts

Another crackdown by the The Vermilion Municipal Drug Task Force has resulted in a few arrests.  Drug agents say when they were working street sales they saw 52-year-old Quan Tran of Abbeville make a drug deal.  According to officials, Tran has been arrested before by the task force for the same crime.

Agents say when they walked up to Tran, he threw something away.  Investigators then saythey found crack right were Tran threw his substance away.  Tran was charged with possession of crack cocaine. His bond was set was $5,000.

In another operation of the drug task force, they conducted a traffic stop on 51-year-old Charles Ledet of Abbeville.   Agents say after being stopped for a traffic violation, they noticed Ledet acting in a very nervous manner, and they saw crack on the floor of car.

As agents were advising Ledet of his rights, they say he tried to reach into his pocket.  They say he pulled out e a pill bottle with numerous pills inside.  Police say the pills as described on the bottle were not what was included in the bottle.  They say they questioned Ledet, and he admitted to purchasing the pills and crack earlier. Ledet was charged with possession of crack cocaine, possession of a schedule III narcotic and possession of a schedule IV narcotic. His bond set was $17,000.

In the third case, agents were working street sales disruption when they approached two vehicles parked, and blocking the roadway. Agents got out of their unites and went up to 19-year-old Jarred Clement's car when he fled on foot from the scene.  They chased after him and noticed Clement clinching something in his hand as he ran. Clement tried to throw away numerous rocks of crack cocaine, which agents were able to pick up and seize. Warrants were obtained for Clement for Possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine. Clement was arrested at a later time on the warrant and was served traffic citations from the incident. Total bond was set at $20,000.

Sheriff Mike Couvillon would like to thank the following persons for their effort in assisting with Task Force personnel:

• Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza
  Kaplan Mayor Kirk Champagne
• Abbeville Chief of Police Tony Hard
• and Kaplan Chief Boyd Adams

Couvillion says, “I realize times are financially tough all over, but the Mayors and Chiefs of these cities are committed to finding the funds to help the Task Force combat the illicit drugs problem that ruins our communities. The people of Vermilion and our children are the benefactors of these city leaders’ great efforts. It is my hope that in the near future other towns and cities in the parish of Vermilion will be able to assist in the continuing fight against illicit drugs.”

Anyone noticing drug activity in that area can call the task force at 337-740-4501 or e-mail them anonymously at taskforce@vpso.net.