Cocaine ring busted
A four-month investigation by police has resulted in the arrests of six people and the seizure of 32 pounds of cocaine worth $1.4 million on the street, a police spokesman said Tuesday.
The investigation began in late January with a traffic stop in the 3300 block of Florida Boulevard, Sgt. Don Kelly said.
During the stop, officers found a quarter-ounce of powdered cocaine and more than $18,000 in cash, Kelly said.
Brian Smith, 20, the driver of the vehicle in which the drugs were found, was arrested and booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
A few days later, Brian Smith and his brother, Bobby Smith, 23, were arrested in the 2800 block of Scenic Highway after officers found them with 4.5 ounces of powdered cocaine, 3 ounces of liquid codeine and $15,478 in cash, Kelly said.
Both were booked into Parish Prison on one count each of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with
intent to distribute liquid codeine.
In mid-February, a vehicle registered to Bobby Smith was pulled over on Interstate 10 during a traffic stop, Kelly said. Officers searched the vehicle and found 31 pounds of packaged powder cocaine inside the tailgate, he said.
The driver of the vehicle, 53-year-old Donald Francois, of Reserve, was arrested and booked on one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
The bundles of cocaine were sent to the State Police Crime Lab, and the fingerprints of Bobby Smith and Brian Smith were found on them, Kelly said.
The Smiths were indicted by a federal grand jury on drug charges, Kelly said. Federal court documents show Francois was indicted as well.
In April, a search warrant was executed at 669 Louise St., the Smiths’ home, and Brian Smith and 27-year-old Christopher Stevenson, 835 East Blvd., were found to be inside the home, where 8 ounces of cocaine and $7,458 in cash were recovered, Kelly said.
Brian Smith and Stevenson were arrested and booked into Parish Prison on one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Earlier this month, 48-year-old Beverly Smith, the Smiths’ mother, and 47-year-old Naeemah Emile were contacted by police officers after they behaved suspiciously at a bank on Florida Boulevard, Kelly said.
Beverly Smith was found with $28,009 in cash and 3.3 ounces of crack cocaine, Kelly said. A search of Emile’s home at 1652 Thomas Delpit Drive yielded another $26,900 in cash, he said.
Both women were booked into Parish Prison on a count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Brian Smith, Bobby Smith and Donald Francois are in federal custody, according to federal court records.
The other three suspects are out on bail.