Anonymous Tip Results in Arrest of Alton Man, His Mother, & His Grandmother

An anonymous tip resulted in the arrest of an Alton-area man on drug and firearm-related charges. The man's mother and grandmother were also arrested after altercations with detectives.

Detectives with the St. Tammany Parish Narcotics Division received an anonymous tip via the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Website, alleging 28-year-old Dequoin Hughes was distributing fentanyl pills, marijuana and guns from his residence on North 9th Street in the Alton community.

Tuesday (January 30, 2024), detectives with the STPSO Narcotics Division arrived at Hughes’ residence to conduct their investigation. Hughes’s mother, 47-year-old Maketria Hughes, and his grandmother, 68-year-old Carol Hughes, neither of which resided at the address, arrived on scene and attempted to force their way into the secured property. 

During a search of the residence, detectives discovered and seized a combined total of 40.9 grams of suspected fentanyl powder and fentanyl pills, 27 grams of marijuana, two dosage units of hydrocodone, a Glock semi-automatic handgun, a bottle of promethazine, various drug paraphernalia and $3,739.

• 28 year-old Dequoin Hughes was arrested and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correction Center on the charges of Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Schedule I CDS (Marijuana), Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Schedule II CDS (Fentanyl), Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Hydrocodone), Transactions Involving Proceeds from Drug Offenses, Possession of a Legend Drug without a Valid Prescription, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Illegal Carrying of a Weapon while in Possession of a CDS, and Possession of a Firearm by a Person Convicted of Certain Felonies

• 47 year-old Maketria Hughes was arrested and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correction Center on the charges of Resisting an Officer and Battery of a Police Officer.

• 68 year-old Carol Hughes was issued a summons to appear in the court on the charges of Resisting an Officer and Battery of a Police Officer. 

“Our residents continue to send the message they will not tolerate drugs and guns being sold in their neighborhoods. Thank you to the concerned citizen who called in this tip and to all of our citizens who continue to call us when they see or hear something suspicious,” Sheriff Randy Smith said. “Keeping drugs out our neighborhoods is a partnership between law enforcement and our residents. We are blessed to live and serve in an area that respects, appreciates and works with law enforcement.”

Sheriff Smith is asking anyone with information about narcotics, or other crimes, to submit a tip utilizing the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office website (www.STPSO.com), or by calling the narcotics tip line (1-888-GO-2-JAIL).