By Alexander Moraski

Bogalusa Mayor Tyrin Truong was arrested Tuesday morning and charged as part of a major investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in the Bogalusa area.

Truong, 25, faces charges including soliciting prostitutes, unauthorized use of a movable and transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses, according to the Louisiana State Police’s Narcotics/Violent Crime Task Force.

Sgt. William Huggins said the task force launched their trafficking investigation in April, uncovering the organization and its distrubition of opioids, high-grade marijuana, THC products and MDMA.

Huggins said the organization’s members used social media platforms to facilitate drug sales and manage payments, while proceeds from drug trafficking were used to purchase firearms — some of which were linked to violent crimes.

Truong, along with six other individuals, were named in the investigation. The others include MacKenzie Lynn Cefalu, 24; De-Saleem Wali Pittman, 24; Dirul S. Pittman, 22; Salehal-Dien Malike Pittman, 26; Tonya Renee Stage, 51; and  Devan Michael Williams, 28.

No bail has been set for Truong.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill emphasized the importance of holding public officials accountable.

“We have zero tolerance for wrongdoing, especially from public officials. I’m very proud of all the law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation,” she said.

District Attorney Collin Sims said his office will continue “to invest time and resources into helping the citizens of Bogalusa. We are not finished.”

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Alexander Moraski works at the American Press‘ sister newspaper, The Bogalusa Daily News.