36 accused in Slidell heroin ring; 20 of them arrested

Published 5:52 pm Wednesday, May 22, 2019

(AP) — Authorities say they’ve arrested 20 people and are looking for 16 more accused of running or working for a heroin ring that was based at a Louisiana tow truck company and was operating in Louisiana and Mississippi.

A news release from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says the two couples accused of being ringleaders include the owner of a substance abuse clinic.

The four are identified as Jason Hotard, Kasey Johnson, and their girlfriends, Turquoise Gillum, and clinic owner Dawn Herbert. The news release didn’t give ages or home towns.

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It wasn’t clear whether they have attorneys who could speak for them.

Capt. Scott Lee says they were allowed to use towing company premises where they stored and packaged heroin that was sold in Louisiana and south Mississippi.