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Terrebonne Parish authorities are on the verge of taking down a major heroin distribution operation, connected to seizures and arrests they announced last week.
Maj. Terrey Daigre, commander of Sheriff Jerry Larpenter’s narcotics division, acknowledged that additional arrests and seizures are imminent, now that two linked east and west Houma trafficking sites allegedly operated by two brothers are history.
“They were on a level where they were big enough to sell to dealers who were selling at lower levels,” Daigre said of two alleged key players, Elbert Jamal Moore and Alexander Joseph Williams.
Moore allegedly trafficked heroin out of his residence at 9162 W. Main St. and Williams from his home at 122 Adoue St.
Narcotics agents developed information and collected evidence during an investigation lasting several months. Although Moore and Williams were the initial targets, ranking officers confirmed, other individuals were identified as having ties to the operation.
They were identified as Georgette Washington, who resided with Moore and is his girlfriend, and Kevin Harris, who lived at 205 Antoine Street in Houma.
Warrants were prepared for all three locations and approved by a judge.
Elbert Moore was in no way a stranger to veteran Terrebonne drug cops. Despite two brushes with the federal system according to court papers, he was still — according to the most recent allegations — heavily involved in the drug trade.
In 2007 he was one of the targets of a multi-agency sweep throughout Houma that resulted in more than a half-million dollars worth of cocaine seized, along with vehicles. Federal authorities handled the prosecution on that case and Moore entered a guilty plea to cocaine base distribution in a case that stretched from Houma to Texas. He was sentenced to six years in federal prison with five years of supervised probation after that.
Arrested while on probation for charges that included possession of synthetic marijuana, Moore was returned to the federal system in 2011.
In 2014 and 2015 Moore re-entered and then exited the federal justice system. And then, according to documents filed in federal court, he entered the heroin trade, observed trafficking by federal agents from 2015 through 2017. The investigation resulted in his arrest and he was scheduled for arraignment March 3 at federal court in New Orleans.
A day before the curtain was set to come down on the heroin network Daigre met with members of his team along with officers from the Houma Police Department and state troopers, mapping out a strategy for the raids.
“The locations all had to be done simultaneously,” said Daigre, who stressed the importance of cooperation between the agencies. Knowing that officers from the other departments would and could be available when team was ready to strike, Daigre said, was essential to synchronization.
Before dawn broke on last Monday — the day before Mardi Gras — teams of officers met at an agreed-upon location and fanned out to their pre-assigned spots, warrants in hand. SWAT officers guarded the perimeters and no resistance of notice was made.
Simultaneously on two different sides of town doors were breached, orders shouted and searches begun.
The operation overall resulted in 34.93 grams of suspected heroin with a street value of nearly $7000, a .45 caliber recolver and $43250 in cash being seized, along with eight assorted prescription pills with a street value of $40.00 Multiple digital scales and two hand-press control compacters, used for packaging narcotics, were also taken along with other paraphernalia, all entered into evidence.
Per arrest warrants obtained, Williams and Moore were charged with two counts heroin distribution and making transactions involving drug proceeds, as well as illegal use of a controlled, dangerous substance in the presence of a juvenile. Washington was charged with being a principal to distribution of heroin and illegal use in the presence of a juvenile.
Possession With Intent To Distribute Heroin, Obstruction Of Justice, Possession Of CDS4, Use Of A Firearm While In Possession Of C.D.S., Illegal Use Of C.D.S. In The Presence Of A Juvenile (3 counts), and Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia. Elbert Moore was additionally arrested for Possession Of Heroin, Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Transactions Involving Drug Proceeds, and Illegal Use Of C.D.S. In The Presence Of A Juvenile (3 counts). Georgette Washington was additionally arrested for Possession Of Heroin, Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Transactions Involving Drug Proceeds, and Illegal Use Of C.D.S. In The Presence Of A Juvenile (3 counts). Kevin Harris was arrested for Possession With Intent To Distribute Heroin and Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia.
As a result of evidence obtained during the raids, Williams was charged additionally with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, obstruction of justice, possession of a level 4 controlled dangerous substance, use of a firearm while in possession of a controlled substance and three counts of substance use in the presence of a juvenile.
Moore was also additionally charged, with paraphernalia possession, transactions involving drug proceeds and illegal use of a sunstance in the presence of a juvenile, three counts. Washington faces additional charges of heroin and paraphernalia possession, drug proceeds transactions and illegal use of a controlled substance in the presence of a juvenile. Harris was arrested for possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Washington’s bond was set at $322,500; Harris’ bond was set at $300,000, Williams at $700,000 and Moore at $335,000.
