Larose man convicted on drug charges

A Larose man was convicted Tuesday in a drug case, according to the Lafourche Parish District Attorney.

Ricky Bruce, 39, was convicted of distributing cocaine following a one-day trial, one of four jury trials in Lafourche Parish, District Attorney Camille “Cam” Morvant said. State District Judge F. Hugh Larose presided over the case.

Morvant said Bruce was accused of selling cocaine to an undercover officer working with the Lafourche Parish Drug Task Force on May 11, 2005. Assistant District Attorneys Peter Rousse and Martin Caillouet prosecuted the case.

Sentencing has been set for Nov. 6; Bruce faces a maximum of 30 years in prison on the charge.

The trial of a Cut Off man charged with possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute is also under way. Juan Verrette, 40, was arrested on March 2, 2003, outside a nightclub in the South Lafourche area after a Mardi Gras parade. The case is being argued before state District Judge A. Bruce Simpson.

Donovan Jones, 22, of Thibodaux, is slated to be tried this week in Larose’s courtroom on charges of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, Morvant said. Also, Robert Roussel, 30, of Cut Off will be tried before state District Judge Jerome J. Barbera III on distribution of cocaine and Xanax charges.