Operation “Jingle Cells,” a Thursday morning sweep of wanted mid-level drug dealers, netted 33 new arrests and six additional charges for offenders already incarcerated in what Sheriff’s Office officials call a muzzle to violent crime.

The offenders, men and women ages 18 to 55 and from all across the parish, were arrested during a 5 a.m. raid, some wearing the medical scrubs they slept in.

While some suspects shielded their faces with their shirts, others called out to reporters Thursday as they were escorted from a Sheriff’s Office complex to a holding van that took them to jail.

Sheriff's Office deputies arrested 33 in drug dealer sweep Thursday morning. Here, suspects leave a Sheriff'€™s Office facility to board buses to the jail. (Staff Photo by Matthew Penix)

“Good Job, St. Tammany,” one said. Another, wearing belly cuffs, pledged he’s not “even going to stop selling this stuff.” Still another, looking into a camera, told a photographer to “get a good shot.”

“Some of these guys don’t even remember right now what offense they are facing,” said Lt. Clint Mathews. “They’ve dealt so many drugs they don’t even know they sold it to an undercover officer a year ago.”

Warrants were cut for many of the offenders up to a year ago or less but were hidden away in a “secret file” as investigations continued. When as much information was culled from the suspects as possible, operation “Jingle Cells” was launched.

In all, about 75 suspects were targeted, resulting in the 39 subsequent charges, “an exceptional level” for such raids, Capt. George Bonnett said. Still roughly 150 suspects remain “in our file” and could face arrests with upcoming raids, because “in the most simplistic way to describe it, (undercover deputies) buy drugs every day,” said Maj. David Hall of the Sheriff’s Office Operations Division.

The raids, months in planning, were assisted with the help of Slidell and Mandeville police departments and are believed to have put a major dent in drug networks that filter cocaine, marijuana and prescription pain pills from Texas, New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Hall said.

“You’re sweeping the streets, getting street level dealers and disrupting the chain,” Hall said. “But more importantly, we know it quells violence. There’s no secret that in the drug business there is violence involved. If we don’t give some effort to stop this today, obviously homicide will have to deal with it later.”

Those arrested are:

Thomas Patton, 38, 9019 Atreus St., Chalmette, possession of Xanax, Hydrocodone and methadone.

Kenneth Katz, 62, no address given, possession with intent to distribute methadone.

Nicholas Graham, 28, 15 S. Acorn Ct. Pearl River, distribution of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled dangerous substance under the age of 17.

Michael Moore, 27, 65400 Shinglemill Road., Pearl River, for distribution of ecstasy.

Heather Martin, 33, 410 Rustling Pine, Slidell, possession of drug paraphernalia.

Tabatha Lawrence, 32, no address given, for possession of marijuana second offense, possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a person under 17.

Daniel Armour, 34, 990 Ashville Drive, Slidell, distribution of cocaine.

Holly Freck, 50, of 191 Kingspoint Blvd., Slidell, distribution of Xanax.

Davede Lewis, 26, 1200 Eagle Lake, Lot 218, Slidell, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, possession of controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a person under the age of 17 and distribution of crack cocaine.

Eric Crowe, 26, already in Sheriff’s Office custody, for distribution of Schedule II crystal-methamphetamine.

Dennis Fricke, 28, already in Sheriff’s Office custody, distribution of crack cocaine.

Debra Troyani, 55, 36441 Ed Yates Road, Pearl River, possession of methamphetamine and oxycodone and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Benson Maxwell, 51, 36441 Ed Yates Road, Pearl River, possession of methamphetamine

Seamus Diamond, 48, 76501 Bob Levy Road, Talisheek, for possession of marijuana, possession of schedule IV narcotic and illegal possession of a legend drug.

Henry Dean Hulsey, 51, 109 Sir Barton Court, Bush, possession with intent to distribute Schedule I and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Samantha Troyani, 23, 366441 Ed Yates Road, Pearl River for possession of methamphetamine and oxycodone.

Patricia Bailey, 40, 421 Saddlebrook Court, Covington, obtaining a controlled dangerous substance by fraud and possession of a schedule III narcotic.

John Maestri, 24, no address given, intent to distribute schedule IV drugs, distribution of a legend drug, misrepresentation of a controlled dangerous substance and simple burglary.

Christopher Ashton, 34, 29242 Elem St., Lacombe, altering a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of Oxycontin.

Jennifer Meiners, 21, no address given, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a schedule II controlled dangerous substance and altering a controlled dangerous substance.

Mason McGinness, 19, 421 E. Lockwood, Covington, failure to appear in court.

Lonjay Earlycutt, 31, 1118 N. Polk St., Covington, distribution of marijuana, ecstasy and crack cocaine and distribution within 1,000 feet of a drug free zone.

Joshua Brooks, 21, no address given, simple burglary.

Alexandra Marks, 24, 105 Bayberry Drive, Covington, possession of marijuana.

Shawndrell Harrell, 20, 1217 W. 33rd Ave., Covington, distribution of cocaine.

Calvin Wilson, 18, 727 W. 32nd Ave., Covington, distribution of marijuana and distribution within 1,000 feet of a drug free zone.

Kevin Jones, 19, 1118 Polk St., Covington, distribution of crack cocaine.

Terry Hookfin, 19, 610 N. Buchanan, Covington, for distribution of crack cocaine.

Ruben White, 20. 72517 Violet St., Abita Springs, distribution of crack cocaine.

Joshua Gilchrist, 18, 640 Apache Drive, Abita Springs, for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Elizabeth Rauch, 38, no address given, for distribution of Oxymorphone.

Dwana Hoofkin, 34, 610 N. Buchanan, Covington, no charge listed.

Alana Jackson, 27, 1128 Polk Street, Covington, no charge listed.

Already in jail were:

Adrian Singleton, 19, possession of marijuana.

Claude Lee Smith, 36, no charge listed.

Dregtt Knight, 36, possession of cocaine.

Sherrie Simms, 36, no charge listed.

Rachel Ostarly, 23, possession of a schedule II narcotic, attempted theft, identity theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Daven Batiste, 19, seven counts of distribution of crack cocaine.