As the investigation into the major drug trafficking organization progressed, LSP investigators, in collaboration with the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, identified additional suspects, leading to further arrests.  

Investigators presented their evidence and information to the Claiborne Parish District Attorney’s Office, where each case was subsequently presented to a grand jury in the 2nd Judicial District Court, resulting in True Bill indictments for 23 individuals. Below are the 23 individuals who have been indicted, along with their charges.

• Rontrell L. Sturdivant – racketeering
• Georgerick J. Coleman – racketeering
• Donnell Mitchell – racketeering
• Jesse C. Thomas – racketeering
• Alonzo Jackson – racketeering
• Deonte Frazier – racketeering
• Bryan D. Webb – racketeering
• DeDarian K. Robinson – racketeering
• Nicholas R. Willis – racketeering
• Orillian V. Guidry Jr. – racketeering
• Jaime R. Rockett – racketeering and distribution of schedule II CDS
• DeMontre D. Robinson – racketeering and distribution of schedule II CDS
• Dexter T. Washington – racketeering and possession of a firearm by convicted felon
• Demond Maddox – racketeering and distribution of schedule II CDS
• Cheryl J. Bragg – racketeering and possession of schedule II CDS
• Corey D. Scott – racketeering and possession with intent to distribute schedule II CDS
• Falante P. Hill – racketeering, distribution of schedule II CDS, and possession of schedule II CDS
• Richard L. Jones Sr. – racketeering, distribution of schedule II CDS, and possession of schedule II CDS
• Ashley Morgan – principle to distribution of schedule II CDS and possession of schedule II CDS
• Yul McGee – distribution of schedule I and II CDS, possession with intent to distribute schedule II CDS, and introduction of contraband into a penal facility
• Fernando Grider – distribution of schedule II CDS and distribution of schedule I CDS
• Jelisha D. Warren – racketeering and possession with intent to distribute schedule II CDS
• Derrick D. Bradford – racketeering, possession with intent to distribute schedule I CDS, possession of schedule II CDS, drug paraphernalia, and illegal carrying of weapons

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to Colonel Robert Hodges and the Louisiana State Police for their invaluable support and collaboration with the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office,” said Claiborne Parish Sheriff Sam Dowies. “The resources they provided during this initiative demonstrate a strong commitment to public safety and the protection of all residents of our state.”

Claiborne Parish District Attorney Danny Newell emphasized, “The Louisiana State Police played a vital role in investigating, identifying, and ultimately dismantling this drug trafficking organization that threatened the safety of our neighborhoods. Their tireless work and collaboration with the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office has been instrumental in bringing these individuals to justice and making our community safer.”

The collaboration between the Louisiana State Police, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Claiborne Parish District Attorney’s Office has been vital in dismantling a major drug trafficking organization operating within the region. 

Federal funding provided through the COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program (CAMP) has significantly strengthened this multi-agency cooperation. The funding has enabled the Louisiana State Police to purchase necessary equipment, technology, and supplies and provide support for personnel such as criminal investigators and undercover officers. 

LSP remains dedicated to using these resources to build strong partnerships with law enforcement and public safety partners to ensure safe and drug-free communities throughout the state.

See below for the initial news release.

Authorities Dismantle Major Drug Trafficking Organization, Leading to Multiple Arrests

Claiborne Parish – In May 2024, Louisiana State Police Bossier Field Office Narcotics, in collaboration with the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, began investigating drug trafficking activity in Claiborne Parish. As the investigation progressed, detectives learned of an active drug trafficking organization and identified numerous suspects and residences associated with it.

On January 31, 2025, the LSP’s Bureau of Investigations, Patrol, Special Operations, and Evidence Control Unit in collaboration with Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Bossier City Police Department, Minden Police Department, David Wade Correctional Facility, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Marshals Service, and Arkansas State Police conducted search warrants at numerous residences associated with illegal activity. 

Officers apprehended 15 suspects as a result of the search warrant executions, investigative strategies, and information obtained. Below are the 15 individuals arrested, along with their charges.

• 34-year-old Georgerick Ja Tedias Coleman – racketeering
• 35-year-old Rontrell Leaujuwun Sturdivant – racketeering
• 35-year-old Demontre D. Robinson – racketeering
• 54-year-old Richard Lavel Jones Sr. – racketeering
• 38-year-old Dexter Terell Washington – racketeering
• 37-year-old Dedarain Kantrez Robinson – racketeering
• 41-year-old Alonzo Demario Jackson – racketeering
• 50-year-old Demond Maddox – racketeering
• 34-year-old Nicholas Richardo Willis – racketeering
• 37-year-old Derrick Dewayne Bradford – racketeering
• 36-year-old John Michael Jackson – attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer (shot at officers as they attempted to apprehend him) and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
• 39-year-old Ashley Morgan – active Claiborne Parish SO warrant.
• 59-year-old Fernanado B. Grider – active Claiborne Parish SO warrant.
• 41-year-old Falante Pierre Hill – active Claiborne Parish SO warrant.
• 45-year-old Jaime R. Rocket – active Claiborne Parish SO warrant.

As part of the investigation, detectives confiscated seven firearms, approximately $5,000, over 20 grams of crack cocaine, over eight pounds of marijuana, and over a pound of methamphetamine. This investigation remains active and ongoing, with more arrests expected.

Louisiana State Police remains committed to working alongside our federal, state, and local public safety partners to ensure safe communities across the state. To report suspicious or criminal activity in your community, the Louisiana State Police online reporting system is available to the public through a convenient, anonymous, and secure reporting form that is submitted to the appropriate investigators. The form can be accessed by visiting lsp.org and clicking the Report Suspicious or Criminal Activity.

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Look Up! Join the Shreveport-Bossier Astronomical Society, Inc. for an evening observation session at the Shreveport Observatory on Saturday, April 12, 2025.

The observing session involves looking through telescopes at numerous astronomical objects.

The evening observation session at Shreveport Observatory will be held from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Numerous telescopes will be available to observe the Moon, Jupiter and it’s moons, Mars, as well as numerous galaxies, star clusters, double stars, nebula, and much more.

The Shreveport Observatory is located eight miles south of the LSU-Shreveport campus. Go south on Hwy. LA. 1 and right on Hwy. 175 for about 1.7 miles and left on Astronomical Way.

If the sky is clouded out or raining, the observing session will be canceled.

For additional information go to ShreveportAstronomy.com or contact Dr. Cran Lucas at (318) 573-6929 or Email cranlucas@gmail.com.

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President Trump hammered many campaign promises during his 2024 presidential campaign and protecting 2nd Amendment rights was prominent among them. To that end, this past week the Trump Administration took a major step in the area of gun rights.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced this past week that the Department of Justice has issued an interim final rule that will assume and take back from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) the responsibility to decide whether to restore gun ownership rights to individuals whose 2nd Amendment rights were taken from them.

For many years, Americans whose gun rights have been revoked could petition the U.S. Attorney General to have their rights restored under federal law 18 U.S.C. 925 (c). However, the power to make that determination was eventually delegated to the ATF.

I note that I was working in D.C. in the Congress for the late U.S. Congressman and Public Service Commissioner, Clyde C. Holloway, when, as noted by The Epoch Times, “in October 1992 then-Rep. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)—now the Senate Minority Leader—amended an ATF funding bill to prohibit the agency from using federal funds to process applications for the restoration of gun rights. Congressional leaders justified the Schumer amendment by saying the applications distracted ATF personnel from their primary task of enforcing gun laws. As a result, no applications to restore Second Amendment rights were processed for more than 30 years.” (Michael Clements, The Epoch Times, 3-26-2025).

The new rule will effectively “bypass decades of congressional funding restrictions that prevented the ATF from processing applications” by shifting those responsibilities to the DOJ. “Some states violate citizens’ Second Amendment rights [with state gun laws]. Did they rob a bank? Were they domestic abusers? No,” Luis Valdes, a former police officer and a spokesman for Gun Owners of America (GOA), told The Epoch Times, “now, they’re able to have their rights fully restored.”

Many citizens had previously been restricted by a lifetime gun ban for “nothing more than violating the ATF’s zero-tolerance policy or were convicted of a non-violent gun crime” under what were arguably unconstitutional gun laws in various states throughout the country.

Critics of this rule change argue that it will “put guns back in the hands of domestic abusers and violent criminals.” However, the interim rule states that the DOJ will individually review each application to ensure people who should not have guns can’t obtain them. “The Department simultaneously recognizes that no constitutional right is limitless; consequently, it also supports existing laws that ensure, for example, that violent and dangerous persons remain disabled from lawfully acquiring firearms.”

I returned to the 2nd Amendment this week because I always find it curious to see the lengths that government at every level is willing to go to limit the full reach of the Second Amendment, and how uninformed many state and federal officials are concerning the purpose of the 2nd Amendment: to allow citizens the ability to individually and personally protect themselves from the government, and to allow citizens the opportunity to protect themselves from others when the government fails to protect them.

As Thomas Jefferson said, “What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms.” (Thomas Jefferson, letter to William S. Smith, 1787). Let’s recall that with the tyranny of King George III fresh and in the forefront of their minds, the Framers intended the 2nd Amendment to limit the government’s power to restrict weapons, not the citizen’s right to possess weapons, weapons which may be necessary to protect themselves from the government.

Let’s also recall that the 2008 Supreme Court Heller decision held that the right to keep and bear arms was both a collective (military and law enforcement) right as well as an individual right. Again, the Second Amendment is a limitation on the government’s power to regulate weapons, not on the citizen’s right to possess weapons.

If there is a compelling safety or security issue that justifies depriving an unstable individual from owning and possessing a firearm, that is one thing. However, the idea that a less-than-compelling determination has stripped an American citizen of their constitutional right to keep and bear arms is simply unacceptable. It is the right to keep and bear arms that makes all other human rights defensible.

It is encouraging to see this proposed new rule.

Royal Alexander

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Sibley Lake is now closed until further notice. The boat ramps on Sibley Lake are closed due to high water levels. A notification will be posted when the ramps reopen. 

Love the Boot Week Starts This Saturday! It’s not too late to participate. Register a cleanup or beautification event, or sign up to volunteer locally at www.lovetheboot.org. Already registered to host an event? Remember to send your volunteers information about your event, so they know when and where to show up. Also remember to collect data at your event(s) using this worksheet. After your event(s), compile your data and submit this online report by April 21.

Louisiana Tech University’s College of Liberal Arts is hosting two events featuring guest Wright Thompson, author of The Barn, a New York Times bestseller that confronts the haunting legacy of Emmett Till’s killing. Thompson will visit campus on Thursday, April 3, to give a talk about The Barn along with a Q&A session and book signing. He will return to campus the morning of April 4 for a fireside chat-style discussion moderated by Teddy Allen. These events are free and open to the public.

The NSU Opera Theater Ensemble will present “A Night at the Opera” on April 4-5 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted to assist the Opera Theater Ensemble in preparing for next season. The ensemble will perform “The Old Maid and the Thief” by Gian Carlo Menotti along with a variety of student-directed opera and musical theatre scenes by composers including Mozart, Heggie, Sondheim and Verdi. This portion of the program will feature over 20 student performers from the NSU Voice Department.

The Riverdale Sophomore class will be waiting tables for tips on April 10 from 5-8pm. These tips will go towards their class fundraising account. You do not have to dine in to leave a tip you can also tip at the pick up window. Cash tips are preferred. 

A beginning ceramics class, “Playing in the Mud,” will be offered through Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic Learning and Global Education starting April 10. The class will be held on Thursday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. through May 15 in Room 113 of the Fine Arts Annex. The fee is $150 plus a $20 material fee paid directly to the instructor on the first night of class. Enrollment to the class is limited. This course is an introduction to working with clay. The student will learn hand-building and sculptural techniques, as well as work on the potter’s wheel. There will also be room for intermediate and advanced students to take the class who want to use the facilities during the class time. Those taking the class should wear clothes that can get dirty. For more information or to register for classes, go to
checkout.nsula.edu

Bloom on Main will be held Saturday, April 12 in Many from 9am-3pm. There will be over 40 vendors 

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