Man arrested for attempting to recruit children to sell drugs in schools

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, Louisiana (WAFB) – Jordan Soares, 23, is awaiting his next court date after being arrested on a long list of charges.

Agents with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office Gang Intelligence and Enforcement Operation said Soares is a local marijuana dealer.

According to the agents, they managed to conduct two undercover marijuana purchases from Soares and identify two locations he allegedly used for his operations.

Agents said they seized over 23 pounds of marijuana, 100 marijuana vaporizer cartridges, painkillers and other drugs, more than $5,000 in cash and several firearms, including a rifle.

According to investigators, Soares also actively recruited children and used them to distribute marijuana in the municipality's schools.

Investigators would not specify which schools they were targeting or say which school system they were accusing Soares of drug smuggling, but school safety officials at East Baton Rouge Schools said they were conducting random searches of campuses.

“There is no 100 percent secure system to keep contraband of any kind off our campuses, but our intention is to prevent and deter it through these searches,” said EBR School Security Director Sergeant Rodney Walker.

Walker explained that it is helpful to build a relationship with the children.

Investigators said witnesses came forward and led them to Soares.

Soares is free on $40,000 bail. His next court date is scheduled for October 10.

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