Bogalusa mayor Truong bonds out after drug trafficking arrest; DA says more busts coming

BOGALUSA, La. (WVUE) – Bogalusa mayor Tyrin Truong bonded out of jail Tuesday evening (Jan. 7), after spending most of the day behind bars following his arrest for what authorities described as his role in a sprawling drug-trafficking scheme that also involved guns and prostitutes.

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Truong, 25, did not comment to reporters as he left jail after posting his $150,000 bond. Supporters covered him and escorted him into a waiting SUV.

District attorney Collin Sims updated the public on the young politician’s arrest at Tuesday night’s regularly scheduled Bogalusa City Council meeting.

“There was a large drug-trafficking organization operating in this area,” Sims said. “My job as the DA is to prosecute based upon evidence. Evidence alone. I don’t care who it is. Does not matter.”

Bogalusa mayor Tyrin Truong arrested, accused of involvement in narcotics, guns and prostitutes

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Troung and six other suspects were arrested Tuesday morning after what authorities said was a months-long investigation headed by the Louisiana State Police. Authorities said the alleged ring sold illicit narcotics and used some profits to buy firearms, then gave those guns to people who can’t legally own firearms and people who went on to use the guns to commit crimes in Bogalusa.

Louisiana State Police also said investigators seized opioids, high-grade marijuana, THC and MDMA during Tuesday’s arrests.

Sims described Tuesday’s arrests as only the first “seven of 20″ he expected in connection to the case.

Truong supporters at the council meeting decried the mayor’s arrest until council members ordered them to stop.

Outside the Washington Parish jail, more of the mayor’s supporters spoke on his behalf.

“The charges stink and so does the warrant,” Troung’s attorney Kelvin May said. “He’s not involved in drugs or prostitution at all.”

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Attorney General Liz Murrill said Tuesday she was aware of the case against Truong and of the politician’s arrest.

“He’s charged with prostitution charges and spending public money in relation to this larger RICO case,” Murrill said. “It is an ongoing matter and I think you will continue to see us address problems in the city of Bogalusa.”

Troung’s father said the investigation is politically motivated.

“They have the people that don’t like him in higher power. They got him involved with this,” Truong’s father Otrevious Romel Harris said.