LAPLACE — St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives conducted alcohol compliance checks at 31 retail stores, finding four participated in illegal sales to minors.

Detectives conducted the controlled operations that sent minors into retail stores to attempt to purchase alcohol.

The operation was part of Sheriff Mike Tregre’s effort to deter the sale of alcohol to minors and resulted in the arrest of four individuals by misdemeanor summons for violating Louisiana Revised Statute on the 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,” a release from the Sheriff’s Office said.

The offenders are:

• Nicole Johnson, 34

LaPlace Travel Center, 4325 Highway US 51, LaPlace

• Shinita Cook, 27

Shell, 930 East Airline Hwy, LaPlace

• George Carter, 51

Road Runners, 3547 West Airline, Reserve

• Raymond Adams, 60

Birdies, 1524 Highway LA 44, Reserve

Tregre said local stores and their employees are the first line of defense against underage drinking. He praised the vast majority of stores checked for their continued efforts in making St John the Baptist Parish safer for area youth.