$15,000 in meth found in Thibodaux

Two Thibodaux men were arrested Oct. 17 for allegedly running a methamphetamine ring in northern Lafourche Parish, a sheriff’s office spokesman said.

LPSO Public Information Officer Larry Weidel said the Lafourche Drug Task Force set up surveillance at the home of Travis Bourgeois, 26, 312 Cascade Dr. A second man, Jack LaGarde, 31, 668 La. 308, became a target of the investigation after he was seen leaving the house, Weidel explained.

The two men met up again around 10 p.m. at a partially constructed home in Sugar Ridge Subdivision, the spokesman said. “Their actions seemed very suspicious and agents continued the surveillance,” he said.

When LeGarde left, traveling toward Thibodaux on Hwy. 20, agents pulled him over because the light on his license plate was burned out, Weidel said. Thibodaux Police and narcotics detectives assisted with the stop.

Weidel said LeGarde was arrested when agents found a large quantity of methamphetamine in his wallet.

While LeGarde was being arrested, agents were continuing to watch Bourgeois, the spokesman said. As he left his 312 Cascade Dr. residence, Bourgeois was stopped by police on Hwy. 20, near 40 Arpent Road and North Canal Boulevard, Weidel said. Bourgeois refused agents’ request to search his vehicle, and a narcotics K-9 was called to the scene, the spokesman said.

After the K-9 indicated narcotics were in the vehicle, Weidel said agents conducted a thorough search and found marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a .40-caliber handgun and $1,188 in cash.

With a search warrant, Lafourche drug agents and K-9s searched Bourgeois’ residence, the spokesman said. The dogs alerted agents to narcotics in a locked shed in the backyard. Weidel said inside the cover of an outboard motor, agents found a bank bag with various documents belonging to Bourgeois. Also in the bag was 115.7 grams of methamphetamine, valued on the street at $15,041.

Bourgeois was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released the following day on a $50,000 bond, Weidel said.

LeGarde was charged with possession of methamphetamine. He was released the following day on a $50,000 bond, the spokesman said.

According to Weidel, the task force is continuing to investigate associates of Bourgeois which could result in more arrests.