Pubdate: Thu, 21 Feb 2002
Source: Times-Picayune, The (LA)
Copyright: 2002 The Times-Picayune
Contact:  http://www.nola.com/t-p/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/848
Author: Rob Nelson

DRUG, PROSTITUTION PROBE NABS 57

Predawn Busts Cap 6-Month Operation

The predawn arrests of 57 West Bank residents Wednesday was part of a 
six-month undercover operation to clean up two of the area's most 
violent and drug-infested neighborhoods, Jefferson Parish Sheriff 
Harry Lee said.

Starting at 2 a.m., authorities arrested the residents in an 
operation that since September has yielded warrants for 294 suspects. 
Among the arrests were three managers of a Marrero motel that Lee 
said had become a haven for drug trafficking and prostitution.

The busts were part of the Sheriff's Office's Project STAR, an 
8-year-old community policing program that aims to clean up and 
rejuvenate 17 high-crime neighborhoods on both sides of the 
Mississippi River.

Lee said the latest round of arrests focused on the Mount Kennedy 
Drive neighborhood in Marrero and the Orleans Village neighborhood at 
the southwest corner of Lapalco and Ames boulevards in Marrero, the 
last two areas of the original 17 that were targeted.

Of the 294 wanted suspects, 146 have been arrested, Lee said, adding 
that warrants have been issued for the rest. Of those arrested, 59 
were already incarcerated at the parish's correctional center in 
Gretna and another 30 were located in other facilities.

Collectively, the suspects have more than 2,000 prior felony arrests 
and nearly half have prior felony convictions, statistics Lee said 
validated Project STAR's emphasis on arresting career criminals.

"We are targeting the right people," he said, adding that violent 
crime in 15 of the 17 targeted neighborhoods has decreased by 26 
percent.

During the operation, deputies made more than 500 drug purchases from 
the suspects, primarily relying on $10,000 in federal money.

The sting also helped police battle a drug and prostitution problem 
at the Budget Inn motel in the 5200 block of Alice Street in Marrero, 
Lee said, adding that 45 of the defendants were involved in drug 
deals at the location. Many of the transactions took place in the 
parking lot of the motel or in the streets that run in front of the 
building, Lee said. "That is a trouble spot, and it always has been," 
he said.

During the investigation, police made 12 drug purchases from three 
managers at the motel, one of whom was ultimately arrested while on 
duty, Lee said.

In addition, 43 prostitution cases were investigated by police at the 
motel, Lee said, adding that residents in the area had been 
complaining to the Sheriff's Office for some time about the business. 
"This is proof that we have been active in that area," he said.

In 1992, similar activity became a problem at the same location when 
it was called the Royal Oaks Motel, Lee said.

Lee said he was successful getting the Royal Oaks declared a public 
nuisance and forcing the owner to sell the property. He said he is 
working with the Jefferson Parish district attorney's office to have 
the Budget Inn meet a similar fate.
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