AMY SZPARA

PHOTO: SGT. TROY HIDALGO places rolls of cash recovered during a drug bust into a plastic evidence bag. (Staff Photo by Amy Szpara) LAPLACE – As part of a crack-down on repeat drug offenders in St. John Parish, a 66-year-old LaPlace man was arrested Tuesday after selling cocaine to undercover officers on three separate occasions. Joshua Sylvan, of 322 Sylvan Lane, LaPlace was booked with three counts of distribution of cocaine. Part of “Operation Come Back INN,” a three-month undercover operation targeting habitual offenders conducted by St. John Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Narcotics, Sylvan’s arrest was one of 18 made by the sheriff’s office. Of the other 17 arrested, 13 were repeat offenders. Agents said they have 72 cases involving 38 defendants which they have been working on, and many of those defendants are repeat offenders. Sylvan has already been convicted twice, and if he is convicted a third time, he could face life imprisonment. According to Sheriff Wayne L. Jones, authorities recovered $26,990 in cash and two rifles from Sylvan’s trailer home during a search of the residence. Sylvan had no proof, such as a W-2 form, of how the money was earned. “The biggest dope dealer in St. John Parish of the 1970s and 1980s is now returning to prison,” said Jones. Jones added he remembers Sylvan as a big dealer when he was just a deputy years ago. Shortly after the arrest, Sylvan began complaining of chest pains and was sent to River Parishes Hospital, where his room was being guarded by officers. Convicted in St. John Parish in 1988, and then again in Orleans Parish in 1990, Sylvan is on parole until August 2006. Many of the others arrested are also currently on probation and parole. “Operation Come Back INN” ended with a round-up of offenders who police began investigating three months ago. When officers received complaints of drug dealings in the Mt. Airy area, they traced it to Sylvan, who was living with a 35-year-old woman. Though living with her, he was back and forth to his own residence dealing cocaine, Jones said. “Getting Sylvan off the street is a real accomplishment. He’s in the dope business. That’s what he’s all about. I really have to credit the officers,” said Jones. He claimed Sylvan was controlling around 60-70 percent of the drugs coming out of the area where he lives. According to Jones, Sylvan was residing in old LaPlace, where a lot of senior citizens also live. “This type of behavior, we won’t tolerate it. Life-long residents won’t have to tolerate this foolishness,” he said. Sylvan will most likely later be charged with possession of firearms by a convicted felon, said Sgt. Troy Hidalgo, a narcotics investigator. Hidalgo added Sylvan had reported being robbed by masked gunmen in March and then again in May, in which over $22,000 in cash and gold jewelry was taken. Hidalgo said for Sylvan to have collected over $26,000 in the past couple of months after losing such a large sum of cash was in itself suspicious. The money recovered Tuesday was separated in rolls of $5,000 and wrapped and hidden in various parts of the house, including in socks and under the mattress. The other arrests took place in different locations, including on the streets and in area bars. Jones said the sheriff’s office has formed solid cases against those arrested. Sylvan is being held at the Sherman R. Walker Correctional Center, and his bond was set at $750,000 by 40th Judicial District Judge Mary Hotard Becnel. The others arrested are being held in lieu of bonds ranging from $25,000 to $250,000.