Leo Pahlke
October 8, 2007October 10
October 10, 2007
A local college student is accused of obstruction of justice for attempting to interfere in a prior criminal case where he faces charges of selling analog drugs.
Jose Barragan, 23, of 145 Circle De L’Universite in Thibodaux, was removed from class at Nicholls State University Friday morning by agents of the Lafourche Parish Task Force for intimidating a witness.
The Lafourche Parish Task Force partnered with the NSU Police Department in making the arrest.
Barragan, a native of Ecuador, was orginally arrested July 13 on suspicion of distributing hallucinogenic drugs around the Nicholls campus.
After undercover agents completed a purchase on July 12, they used a search warrant on Barragan’s apartment and seized 7,238 pills, along with Barragan’s computer and passport.
The pills were identified as analog drugs, which are similar to specific controlled substances.
Since the pills have the potential to cause memory loss, authorites expressed concern that they might have been used in connection with sexual assaults.
Barragan was charged with several counts of possession and distribution and was awaiting trial on those charges when the second arrest occured last week.
Following his arrest, Barragan posted a $100,000 bond. He returned to Nicholls this semester pending the start of his trial. The Ecuadorian is a senior majoring in computer information systems.
Agents realized Barragan was tampering with the case against him when a witness reported to being the subject of threats and harrassment.
“This is an outrage,” said Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre in a news release. “First, Mr. Barragan set up shop to distribute experimental, psychedlic drugs on a university campus and now he’s attempting to derail the case against him by intimidation of a witness. Let me make it clear to Mr. Barragan and every other person who believes that they are above the law that Lafourche Parish is not the right place to commit crimes.”
The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office is asking anyone who feels they may have ingested the drug unknowingly and been assaulted sexually to call authorities at (985) 532-2808.
“The witness and others involved in this case can now rest easy knowing that the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Task Force will not allow thugs to escape justice,” Webre said. “Our justice system will ultimately decide Mr. Barragan’s fate, whether he likes it or not.”
