A young mayor from Louisiana was arrested as part of a drug-trafficking investigation.
A 25-year-old man, Tyrin Truong, was accused of engaging in transactions involving drug proceeds and soliciting prostitution.
On Tuesday, a Louisiana mayor was arrested due to his suspected involvement in a drug-trafficking investigation carried out by state authorities.
Tyrin Truong, the 25-year-old mayor of Bogalusa, was arrested and charged with drug-related offenses, soliciting prostitutes, and using someone else's personal property without their consent.
"Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill stated that there is zero tolerance for wrongdoing, particularly from public officials. She expressed pride in the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation."
In April 2024, the Louisiana State Police's Narcotics and Violent Crime Task Force began an investigation into a drug-trafficking organization (DTO) operating in the Bogalusa area.
The operation, which took place over several months, involved cooperation with the 22nd Judicial District Court District Attorney's Office, Murrill's office, and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.
The DTO was allegedly involved in the distribution of various controlled dangerous substances, including opioids, high-grade marijuana, THC products, and MDMA, according to the investigation.
Police stated that investigators discovered that members of the organization utilized social media to distribute drugs and handle payments, enabling them to broaden their criminal operations.
Allegedly, profits from drug sales were used to buy firearms, some of which were given to people who were not allowed to have firearms, and others were linked to violent crimes in the Bogalusa area.
Seven alleged members of the organization were arrested after law enforcement officials obtained and executed multiple search and arrest warrants.
The police arrested six individuals from Bogalusa, including 24-year-old MacKenzie Lynn Cefalu, 24-year-old De-Saleem Wali Pittman, 22-year-old Dirul S. Pittman, 26-year-old Salehal-Dien Malike Pittman, 51-year-old Tonya Renee Stage, and 28-year-old Devan Michael Williams.
The other six suspects, like Truong, were arrested for engaging in transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses.
Four individuals, including Cefalu, Stage, Williams, and D-Saleem Wali Pittman, were accused of conspiring to distribute a schedule I controlled dangerous substance, with the latter also being charged with distributing a schedule II controlled dangerous substance.
All seven suspects were booked into the Washington Parish Jail.
Numerous other matters and individuals remain under investigation in connection with the investigation, according to the state police.
"District Attorney Collin Sims stated, "We will continue to invest time and resources into assisting the citizens of Bogalusa. Our work is not yet done.""
On Tuesday afternoon, FOX 8 in New Orleans reported that Truong's bond was set at $150,000.
Planet Chronicle Digital's request for comment on the matter was not immediately responded to by Truong's office.
In 2022, at the age of 23, Truong was elected as the mayor of Bogalusa, replacing Wendy O'Quin Perrette, who had been in office since her first term in 2014.
NOLA.com reported that Truong, who won the election, became the youngest mayor in the city's history and one of Louisiana's youngest mayors ever.
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