SERVING ASCENSION, ASSUMPTION & ST. JAMES PARISHES

Gonzales Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Meth

          Last week, Philip Sanders of 14180 Hwy 44 Gonzales, LA., age 41, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, and Obstruction of Justice. Sanders 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 an August narcotics investigation.

          On August 22, 2019, narcotics agents with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle during the course of an on-going narcotics investigation. Agents activated their emergency lights and sirens and engaged in a brief pursuit. During the pursuit, agents observed individuals inside the vehicle attempting to discard of what appeared to be illegal narcotics. The suspect vehicle stopped, and agents immediately detained the occupants of the vehicle. Agents identified the driver of the vehicle as Philip Sanders. During a pat down of Sanders, agents located a quantity of heroin on his person. During a search of the vehicle, agents located additional quantities of heroin and methamphetamine. Sanders and other individuals were subsequently arrested and transported to the Ascension Parish Detention Center where they were booked accordingly. 

           Upon entering a guilty plea to the above mentioned charges, pursuant to the plea agreement with prosecutors, Sanders was sentenced to 10 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.