Sheriff: 2 arrested in Baton Rouge drug bust; fentanyl, crack cocaine, cash seized

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Two men were arrested following a drug bust in Baton Rouge that led to the seizure of fentanyl, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, various other drugs, nearly $10,000 in cash and two handguns, authorities said.

According to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Javoanta Harris, 26, and Louis Brown, 24, were taken into custody after a two-month investigation by the department’s Gang Intelligence Unit.

In September and October, agents conducted surveillance on Harris at his apartment on Granite Drive. During the investigation, agents said they bought drugs from Harris, which tested positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl. A search warrant was then obtained for Harris’s apartment.

On Monday, Oct. 6, the sheriff’s office took Harris into custody in the parking lot of his apartment complex.

The following items were seized as a result of the search warrant:

• 6.6 grams of fentanyl, powder and pills (66 lethal doses)
• 29.4 grams of crack cocaine
• 0.7 grams of crystal methamphetamine
• 11.9 ounces of marijuana
• 169 dosage units of alprazolam pills
• 71 dosage units of MDMA pills
• Three Suboxone strips
• Five 1-liter boxes of promethazine syrup
• plastic bags
• glass measuring cup with cocaine residue
• 3 digital scales
• $9,905 in cash (pending seizure)
• Taurus, G3C semi-automatic 9mm handgun
• Springfield Armory, XD-9 semi-automatic 9mm handgun

Harris faces the following charges:

• Possession with intent to distribute Schedule II drugs (marijuana)
• Possession with intent to distribute Schedule II drugs (fentanyl)
• Possession with intent to distribute Schedule II drugs (crack cocaine)
• Possession with intent to distribute Schedule IV drugs (alprazolam)
• Possession of a Schedule III drug (Suboxone strips)
• Operation of a clandestine lab
• Possession of drug paraphernalia

Harris was legally barred from possessing or buying guns as part of the conditions of two serious, prior convictions.

Brown faces similar charges, including:

• Possession with intent to distribute Schedule II drugs (marijuana)
• Possession with intent to distribute Schedule II drugs (fentanyl)
• Possession with intent to distribute Schedule II drugs (crack cocaine)
• Possession with intent to distribute Schedule IV drugs (alprazolam)
• Possession of a firearm in the presence of drugs
• Violation of a protective order (firearm possession)
• Operation of a clandestine lab
• Transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses
• Possession of drug paraphernalia

The sheriff’s office confirmed Brown admitted that the drugs found in his bedroom belonged to him during an interview after his arrest. Brown also reportedly confessed to selling marijuana and pills. In addition, he told authorities he knew the two guns were in his room and that he carried one of the guns, but they are not his. Brown added that all of the money in his room was his, and $100 to $200 came from drug sales.

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