LAPLACE – St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office Detectives used minors to conduct alcohol compliance checks at retail stores on Tuesday.
The checks were a controlled operation that sent minors into retail stores to attempt to purchase alcohol, part of Sheriff Mike Tregre’s continuing effort to deter the sale of alcohol to minors. The operation resulted in the arrest of 11 individuals for violating Louisiana Revised Statute 14:93.11, sale of alcohol to a minor. In addition, the retail locations were cited by the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control for sale of alcohol to minors and will face possible fines and/or suspension of their liquor licenses.
The offenders were:
• Mohamed Abdel-Wadoud, 44, Birdies Food Valero, 1296 Louisiana Highway 44, Reserve
• Tahmeka Kelly, 32, Circle K Gas Station, 4300 U.S. Highway 51, LaPlace
• Darrylnika Royal, 20, Min Hui Mart, 601 Main St., LaPlace
• Shadi Judeh, 23, Birdie’s Food and Fuel, 900 E. Airline Highway, LaPlace
• Brittney Whitehead, 28, Cheap Smokes, 1600 W. Airline Highway, LaPlace
• Osarumwense Vosper-Woghrien, 22, Big River Food and Fuel, 482 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace
• Jamal Hmaidan, 43, Cambridge Food Market, 1036 W. Airline Highway, Suite 122, LaPlace
• Mohammad Yousef, 32, Birdies, 483 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace
• Myshelle Nelson, 19, LaPlace Travel Center, 4325 U.S. Highway 51, LaPlace
• Yousef Mohamed, 22, Saints Express, 3357 W. Airline Highway, Reserve
• Yolanda Burks, 45, Pit Stop Petroleum, 2701 W. Airline Highway, LaPlace
Tregre said that the establishments and their employees who upheld the law are the first line of defense in the battle against underage drinking. He praised them for their continued efforts in making St John the Baptist Parish a safer and healthier environment for young people.  
The charges for which the previously mentioned individuals were arrested are mere accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.