Bogalusa, Louisiana, Mayor Tyrin Truong arrested on drug and prostitution charges

The 25-year-old mayor of Bogalusa, Louisiana, was arrested Tuesday and charged with involvement in a drug trafficking operation and soliciting prostitution.

Louisiana State Police arrested Mayor Tyrin Truong and six others after investigating a suspected drug trafficking organization operating in the Bogalusa area in April.

The criminal organization is accused of distributing opioids, ecstasy, THC products and high-quality marijuana through social media and other channels, then using the proceeds to purchase firearms, some of which were later used in other crimes, police said in a statement.

The seven suspects, including the mayor, are from Bogalusa and were accused of conducting transactions using drug proceeds.

Mr. Truong, elected in 2022, was also charged with unauthorized use of another’s car and soliciting prostitutes. He was not accused of distributing drugs himself.

Prosecutor Collin Sims, who serves Louisiana’s 22nd Judicial District, alleged that Mr. Truong used public funds to pay a prostitute he solicited at a mayors’ conference in Atlanta. Mr. Sims also claimed that Mr. Truong bought drugs, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Salehal-Dien Malike Pittman, 26, and Dirul Pittman, 22, were charged with engaging in illegal transactions. De-Saleem Wali Pittman, 24, faces charges of conspiracy to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance and distribution of a Schedule II controlled substance. LSP did not specify what the relationship was between the three, if any.

MacKenzie Lynn Cefalu, 24, Devan Michael Williams, 28, and Tonya Renee Stage, 51, are also charged with conspiracy to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance.

Mr. Sims said in the LSP release, “We will continue to invest time and resources to help the citizens of Bogalusa. We are not finished.