UPDATED JANUARY 8, 5:39 PM Truong posts statement on social media
Bogalusa Mayor Tyrin Truong, age 25, was arrested very early Tuesday morning (January 7) on four charges, including two related to drug transactions and one related to soliciting for prostitution.
He was arrested at his home in Bogalusa and transported to the Washington Parish jail, where he was booked at 2:51 a.m. Tuesday morning. Later in the day on Tuesday his bond was set at $150,000.
He bonded out of jail Tuesday at 6:27 p.m. In Louisiana, defendants generally pay about 12% of their total bond to a bondsman to get out of jail. This means Truong raised $18,000 to get out of jail.
The arrest was a result of a joint operation between the Louisiana State Police, the 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office. Investigators were probing the activity of an alleged Drug Trafficking Organization, and that investigation resulted in the arrests.
Some media reports stated that the Bogalusa Police Department was also involved in the operation, but they were not. According to the Louisiana State Police, the joint operation that resulted in the mayor’s arrest did not include the Bogalusa Police Department.
In addition to Truong, seven others were also arrested.
The listing of those arrested in the operation and their charges:
•25-year-old Tyrin Truong of Bogalusa, Mayor of Bogalusa;
Charges: L.R.S. 40:1041: Transactions Involving Proceeds from Drug Offenses; L.R.S. 14:68: Unauthorized Use of a Moveable; L.R.S. 14:83: Soliciting for Prostitutes
•24-year-old MacKenzie Lynn Cefalu of Bogalusa;
Charges: L.R.S. 40:1041: Transactions Involving Proceeds from Drug Offenses; L.R.S. 40:979/966: Conspiracy to Distribute a Schedule I CDS (CDS = Controlled Dangerous Substance)
•24-year-old De-Saleem Wali Pittman of Bogalusa;
Charges: L.R.S. 40:1041: Transactions Involving Proceeds from Drug Offenses; L.R.S. 40:979/966: Conspiracy to Distribute a Schedule I CDS; L.R.S. 40:966A: Distribution of a Schedule II CDS·
•22-year-old Dirul S. Pittman of Bogalusa;
Charges: L.R.S. 40:1041 Transactions Involving Proceeds from Drug Offenses
•26-year-old Salehal-Dien Malike Pittman of Bogalusa;
Charges: L.R.S. 40:1041 Transactions Involving Proceeds from Drug Offenses
•51-year-old Tonya Renee Stage of Bogalusa
Charges: L.R.S. 40:1041 Transactions Involving Proceeds from Drug Offenses; L.R.S. 40:979/966 Conspiracy to Distribute a Schedule I CDS
•28-year-old Devan Michael Williams of Bogalusa;
L.R.S. 40:1041 Transactions Involving Proceeds from Drug Offenses; L.R.S. 40:979/966 Conspiracy to Distribute a Schedule I CDS
According to the Louisiana State Police, the investigation revealed the Drug Trafficking Organization’s involvement in the distribution of various Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS), including opioids, high-grade marijuana, THC products, and MDMA.
Investigators discovered that members of the Drug Trafficking Organization were allegedly utilizing social media platforms to distribute CDS and manage payments, further expanding their reach and criminal activity. According to State Police, the investigation also determined that profits from drug sales were used to purchase firearms. Some of these firearms were funneled to individuals prohibited from legal possession, while others were linked to violent crimes in the Bogalusa area.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill stated, “We have zero tolerance for wrongdoing, especially, from public officials. I’m very proud of all of our law enforcement agencies who worked on this investigation.”
Collin Sims, the 22nd Judicial District Attorney, said, “We are going to continue to invest time and resources into helping the citizens of Bogalusa. We are not finished.”
In response to his arrest, Mayor Truong posted the following statement to social media on Wednesday, January 8:
"Each morning since taking this job, I have recited the first three verses of Psalm 27 and today is no different. I love this scripture so much that it was forever etched on my arm back in college. When you’re cutting contracts, shutting down favors and exerting influence — shaking up things and exposing truths — you become a target. I pray that God reveals every person that had a hand in this, and there are many. I thank my family, friends and multitude of supporters for your outpouring of love. If you think I ran a drug operation (and all those other accusations), you’re sadly mistaken. Those who know me, KNOW me and I’ll let God and my attorney handle the rest!"
