Three are arrested on cocaine charges

Published 12:00 am Saturday, March 3, 2001

PHOTO: SHERIFF WAYNE L. JONES examines the arrest reports on three people picked up on cocaine charges. On his desk are a bulletproof vest and $26,000 worth of cocaine. (Staff Photo by Leonard Gray) LAPLACE – Two men and a woman were arrested Wednesday night and charged with possession of $26,000 worth of cocaine, which came out of a heavily-fortified trailer in Reserve, according to St. John Parish Sheriff Wayne L. Jones. Corey A. Lee, 30, of 220 Historic East St., Garyville; Shenita Macon, 27, of 149 W. 15th St., Reserve; and Derrick T. Johnson, 25, of 149 W. 15th St., Reserve, all face a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison, if convicted. Jones said all are charged with possession of more than 200 grams of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm with a controlled dangerous substance. Jones expressed his thanks to the neighbors who earlier had complained of the alleged drug trafficking in the Reserve neighborhood while the surveillance operation was going on. Lt. Commander Octavio Gonzalez added the operation took 18 months. Jones reported that while the trailer was under surveillance Thursday, Johnson left first and was picked up near Globalplex, then Lee and Macon attempted to leave with Macon’s two children, a 3-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy. The car was pulled over by the sheriff’s Felony Intercept Unit near the residence, and the 261 grams of cocaine was found in the girl’s school bag. Also recovered from the trailer residence during a court-authorized search was a bulletproof vest, described by Gonzalez as a “level three tactical entry vest” and a Star 9mm handgun with ammunition. Johnson called himself a rap producer with “Big Records Production,” according to Jones. Bonds were set at $40,000 for Lee, $50,000 for Johnson and $20,000 for Macon by 40th Judicial District Judge Madeline Jasmine on Thursday.