SLIDELL, La. — A Slidell-area couple finds themselves behind bars on multiple drug charges – including distribution – as well as firearms possession following the conclusion of a six-week joint investigation over the weekend.
According to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, whose Narcotics Division was joined by Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana State Police, 42-year-old Jerry Darby was arrested on Friday while live-in girlfriend Andrea Richardson, 34, was taken into custody on Monday.
Darby, who deputies said goes by the name "Bam" on the street, was identified as a "significant daily distributor of fentanyl and cocaine in both the Slidell and New Orleans areas."
Darby and Richardson primarily lived in the 5900 block of Pier Park Avenue in Lakeshore Villages after he at least lived at two former residences in the 2700 block of Edge Street in New Orleans.
Deputies said state police detectives, Troop NOLA Troopers and HSI searched the two residences in New Orleans Friday, while members of the STPSO Narcotics Unit, with the assistance of the Proactive Enforcement Unit, searched the Pier Park Avenue home.
Cocaine, an unlawfully possessed semi-automatic handgun and more than $30,000 in cash were allegedly located at the Slidell-area residence, while more than 500 grams of fentanyl, assorted paraphernalia associated with the large-scale packaging and distribution of drugs, and another unlawfully possessed handgun were discovered in New Orleans.
Darby was booked on the following charges in Orleans and St. Tammany parishes:
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute for Schedule I (Orleans Parish)
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute for Schedule II (Orleans Parish)
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute for Schedule III (Orleans Parish)
- Possession/Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance within a Drug-Free Zone (Orleans Parish)
- Operation of a Clandestine Lab for Manufacturing Controlled Dangerous Substances (Orleans Parish)
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Orleans Parish)
- Possession of a Firearm with a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Orleans Parish)
- Possession of a Schedule II CDS (St. Tammany Parish)
- Transactions Involving Proceeds from Drug Offenses (St. Tammany Parish)
- Possession of a Firearm in the Presence of a CDS (St. Tammany Parish)
- Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (St. Tammany Parish)
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (St. Tammany Parish)
Richardson was booked on the following charges:
- Possession of a Schedule II CDS (St. Tammany Parish)
- Transactions Involving Drug Proceeds (St. Tammany Parish)
- Possession of a Firearm in the Presence of a CDS (St. Tammany Parish)
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (St. Tammany Parish)
“Criminals do not care about jurisdictional boundaries, which is why we work closely with our federal and state partners to identify the individuals who are bringing these dangerous drugs into our community,” Sheriff Randy Smith said. “I want to thank everyone involved in this successful operation which resulted in a large amount of deadly fentanyl being taken off the streets and a large-scale dealer being put behind bars.”
Anyone with information regarding this investigation or additional criminal activity can contact the Louisiana State Police Criminal Investigation Division at 985-543-4182.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.
