Sheriff's Office arrests five on drug counts

PLAQUEMINE - The Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office and Law Enforcement Against Drugs Task Force arrested five people accused of drug trafficking, Sheriff Brett Stassi said Thursday.

Freddie Blanchard, 27, 17950 Willow St., Grosse Tete, and Leola Simon, 29, 57815 Plaquemine St., Plaquemine, were arrested Tuesday after authorities searched their residences and confiscated drug paraphernalia and several handguns, according to a news release from Stassi.

Blanchard was booked into the parish jail with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled substance and illegal use of a controlled substance in the presence of a juvenile.

Simon was booked into he parish jail on counts of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled substance, illegal use of a controlled substance in the presence of a person under 17 years of age and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Stassi said that in a second case, drug investigators on Aug. 7 raided a residence at 33450 Boudreaux St., White Castle, where they arrested occupants Johntell Link, 32; Preston Link, 27; and Garrard Jones, 27, and seized 52 packs of synthetic marijuana and 6 grams of crack cocaine.

All three were booked into parish prison with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.