22 ARRESTED FOR SMUGGLING CONTRABAND INTO JAIL

Twenty-two people who police say illegally brought narcotics and tobacco
into the parish jail earlier this year could now face jail time for the crimes.

All are charged with racketeering. If convicted, each face up to 50 years
in prison and fines of up to $1 million. Racketeering occurs when a person
or group of people obtained money illegally through fraud or extortion.

Police say all of those accused were either directly or indirectly involved
with providing inmates with the banned items.

"Prisoners were calling for drugs and these people would throw it over the
fence or drop it on the grounds," said Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry
Larpenter. "It's not a large amount of drugs; it's just the fact that they
tried to smuggle it into the jail."

The arrests began Wednesday after police secured arrest warrants, Larpenter
said, and are the result of a months-long investigation that included audio
and video tape surveillance.

The investigation, which Larpenter said started about six months ago, began
after a tipster told police tobacco and drugs were being smuggled into the
jail.

Deputies and narcotic task force agents confiscated some of the items,
including $300 worth of cigarette tobacco, $150 worth of cigarettes, $960
worth of cigars, $318 worth of marijuana and $420 worth of crack cocaine.

Larpenter said the values provided are retail prices and that the items
would be worth substantially more inside the parish jail.

Thirteen of the 22 people were already behind bars, awaiting trial on other
charges.

They are:

a.. *, 27, * King St., Houma.

b.. *, 25, * Court St., Gibson.

c.. *, 30, * Talbot St., Thibodaux.

d.. *, 21, * Samuel St., Houma.

e.. *, 24, * Grand Caillou Road, Houma.

f.. *, 29, * Leslie St., Houma.

g.. *, 39, * Scheley St., Houma.

h.. *, 22, * Agnes St., Houma

i.. *, 39, * Roussell St., Houma.

j.. *, 26, * Wellington St., Houma.

k.. *, 22, * St. Charles St., Houma.

l.. *, 26, * Leslie St., Houma.

m.. *, 24, * Laban St. *, Houma.

Six were arrested Wednesday. They are:

a.. *, 26, * Bond St., Houma.

b.. *, 46, * Killarney Loop, Houma.

c.. *, 28, * Acadian Drive, Houma.

d.. *, 28, * Cavaness Drive, Houma.

e.. *, 46, * Leslie St., Houma.

f.. *, 21, * Oak Point Road, Montegut.

All are being held in lieu of bonds of $100,000 each.

Three other people remain at large, Larpenter said.

Police were not sure of the relationships between those in jail and those
outside it, with the exception of three of those arrested. * is the mother
of two inmates: * and *, Larpenter said.