Prescription Drug Raid In Vermillion Parish Puts Two Behind Bars

The Vermillion Parish Sheriff's Office and their specialty drug enforcement task force were looking into prescription drug violations recently.

Agents were patrolling when they saw a car leaving various drug dealers residences. When the car left one of the houses, it committed a traffic violation.

Agents attempted to stop the vehicle, but it began to pull away and commit more violations. Once agents were able to stop the car on Jefferson St. in Abbeville, they approached it and noticed blue pills in plain sight on the floor.

The car was searched and it was learned that the driver, Howard Lee Bessard, had just purchased the pills and threw them on the floor when officers approached the car. Bessard was arrested and charged with possession of schedule III narcotics and many traffic violations.

His bond was set at $50,000.

Around the same time, a warrant was issued for a home off Vernon st. in Abbeville. Several complaints were made about illegal drugs being sold at the residence. Agents seized many empty pill bottles and many illegal pills.

The agents were able to arrest Dianne Lewis for multiple charges of possession with the intent to distribute.

Her bond was set to $32,000.

If you know of any illegal drug activities in Vermillion Parish and wish to report it you can call 337-740-4501 or email the task force anonymously at taskforce@vpso.net.