Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: March 10, 2003

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Large amount of drugs, cash seized in operation

The Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force, along with the Shreveport Police Department’s Mid-Level Investigative Unit, the Louisiana State Police Troop G Narcotics Unit and other local law enforcement agencies have arrested three people following a month-long investigation.

A press conference will be held at 2 p.m. today at the DEA office, located at 401 Edward St., Suite 510, to discuss the results of the investigation. Evidence seized during the operation will be available for video/pictures, as well as local law enforcement leaders.

Besides the arrests, investigators seized 617 grams of crack cocaine and 84 grams of power cocaine -- drugs that have a street value of $70,300. Also seized were three firearms and $18,732 in U.S. currency.

The operation targeted an organization that was bringing cocaine into Shreveport from Texas. The cocaine was then being sold in the Shreveport area, as well as northeast Louisiana and western Mississippi. Agents arrested the heads of the organization that were working out of Shreveport, and more arrests are probable.

Agents also are continuing to investigate this organization and are attempting to identify the source of the supply in Texas and other areas.

This morning, drug enforcement agents, with the assistance of Shreveport Police Department patrol officers, stopped two vehicles and executed two search warrants at apartments within the city.

The two apartments were located at the Pier Apartments, 3131 Knight Street, and at La Tierra Apartments, 7121 Tierra (off Pines Road). The vehicles were stopped on North Market at I-220 and on I-20 on the Red River bridge. Those arrested were:

• Vertone A. Evans, also known as Donavon Allen, 33 of the 3000 block of Westover in Shreveport. He is charged with federal charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy.

• Kevin Ferguson, 32, of Dallas, Texas. He is charged with federal charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy.

• Cassandra Crawford, 32, of the 6100 block of Tierra in Shreveport. She is charged with state charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

Members of the DEA Drug Task Force include representatives from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Shreveport Police Department, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office and the ATF.

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View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews