4 Members of Louisiana Drug Trafficking Group Arrested Suspected of Distribution of Large Quantities of Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and Other Crimes

St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana – Four members of a Louisiana drug trafficking group have been arrested, suspected of the distribution of large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other crimes.

On February 15, 2023, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office (STPSO) reported that the suspects in a Lacombe, Louisiana-area drug operation had been apprehended thanks to the efforts of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Narcotics Division and the Louisiana State Police Narcotics/Violent Crimes Task Force (Region 1).

Authorities claim that in March 2022, while collaborating with the State Police, STPSO Narcotics detectives initiated an investigation into individuals suspected of distributing large quantities of multiple types of illegal narcotics throughout St. Tammany Parish. Through the course of the investigation, investigators were able to identify the members of a drug trafficking group operating out of Lacombe-area dwellings and led by Reginald Schneider, a Lacombe, Louisiana resident.

The detectives then connected Schneider to other members of the scheme, including suspects Willie Wilson, Kimberly Kerr, and Miranda Moran.

Tuesday afternoon, in the Lacombe region, investigators performed a traffic stop on a black Chevrolet pickup truck occupied by Wilson and Kerr.
Detectives reportedly discovered 28.2 grams of suspected crack cocaine and an assortment of drug paraphernalia within this vehicle.

Following this traffic stop, investigators from the Louisiana State Police Narcotics/Violent Crimes Task Force and the STPSO Narcotics Division simultaneously executed search warrants at multiple Lacombe-area properties on Berry Todd Road, Janet Street, and Dinkins Drive. During these searches, State Police K9 Boyca was utilized.

Detectives recovered approximately 178.4 grams of suspected cocaine, approximately 58.3 grams of suspected methamphetamine, approximately 23.9 grams of suspected fentanyl, 66 dosage units of suspected oxycodone, approximately 85.4 grams of suspected marijuana, and a variety of drug paraphernalia during the nearly year-long operation. Additionally, detectives discovered eight guns, of which four were reported stolen.

At the residence on Dinkins Drive, officers also recovered a camera system, a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, a GMC Sierra pickup truck, a red Polaris RZR side-by-side, and about $500,000 in suspected narcotics proceeds.

Schneider, Wilson, Kerr, and Moran reportedly used the automobiles to trade drugs in and around the Lacombe region.

Reginald P. Schneider, 57, was arrested and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on the charges of 6 counts of L.R.S. 40:967AC Possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II CDS (felony), 6 counts of L.R.S. 14:95E Illegal Possession of a Weapon in presence of a CDS (felony), 6 counts of L.R.S. 14:95.1 Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon (felony), 4 counts of L.R.S. 14:69.1 Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms (felony), 1 count of L.R.S. 40:1041 Transactions Involving Proceeds from Drug Offenses (felony), and 1 count of L.R.S. 40:1023C – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (misdemeanor).

Willie L. Wilson, 48, was arrested and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on the charges of 3 counts of L.R.S. 40:967A Distribution of a Schedule II CDS (felony), 1 count of L.R.S. 40:967AC Possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II CDS (felony), 1 count of L.R.S. 40:967C Possession of a Schedule II CDS (felony), 1 count of L.R.S. 14:95E Illegal Possession of a Weapon in presence of a CDS (felony), 1 count of L.R.S. 14:95.1 Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon (felony), and 1 count of L.R.S. 40:1023C Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (misdemeanor).

Kimberly Kerr, 51, was arrested and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on the charges of 1 count of L.R.S. 40:967AC Possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II CDS (felony), 1 count of L.R.S. 40:967C Possession of a Schedule II CDS (felony), 2 counts of L.R.S. 40:1023C Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (misdemeanor), and 1 count of L.R.S. 14:00 Fugitive out of Louisiana Probation and Parole (misdemeanor).

Miranda J. Moran, 48, was arrested and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on the charges of 2 counts of L.R.S. 40:967C Possession of Schedule II CDS (felony), 1 Count of L.R.S. 40:1023 Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (misdemeanor), and 1 Count of L.R.S. 40:966C Possession of a Schedule I CDS (misdemeanor).

“Due to the diligence of our detectives and the excellent working relationship we have with the State Police Narcotics/Violent Crimes Task Force, four of our area’s biggest drug dealers are now behind bars and a very large quantity of dangerous drugs will never hit the streets of St. Tammany Parish,” said St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith. “I commend and thank everyone who worked on this operation. We will continue our work to identify and arrests those individuals who are bringing drugs into our community.”

An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.