On February 7, 2017, Wilbert Thomas of 5717 Comishi Dr. Baton Rouge, LA., age 35, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance and Illegal Carrying of Weapons. Thomas was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Charles “Chuck” Long, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Tess Stromberg. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors following a 2016 traffic stop which yielded illegal narcotics and a firearm.

On October 30, 2016, Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Deputies initiated a traffic stop on a blue Mercury Marquis near the intersection of Airline Hwy and LA. 621 in Gonzales. Shortly after, deputies made contact with an individual identified as Wilbert Thomas. Upon making contact with Thomas, deputies observed Thomas to have a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber handgun wrapped inside of a winter jacket. At this time, deputies conducted a brief pat down of Thomas. During the pat down, deputies located a small plastic baggie containing powder cocaine. Thomas was subsequently arrested and transported to the Ascension Parish Detention Center where he was booked accordingly.

Upon entering a guilty plea to the above charges, as per the plea agreement with prosecutors, Judge Stromberg ordered that Thomas be committed to the Louisiana Department of Corrections for a period of 5 years with credit for time served on each charge. It was further ordered that the imposed sentences are to run concurrent with one another.