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

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

The criminal organization is accused of distributing opioids, ecstasy, THC products and high-grade marijuana via social media and other channels, then using proceeds to buy guns, some of which were then used in other crimes, police said in a release.

All seven suspects, including the mayor, are from Bogalusa and have been charged with making transactions using proceeds from drug sales.

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

District Attorney Collin Sims, who serves Louisiana’s 22nd Judicial District, alleged that Mr. Truong used public funds to pay a prostitute he solicited at a conference of mayors 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, have been accused of making 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 if any relation the three have to one another.

MacKenzie Lynn Cefalu, 24, Devan Michael Williams, 28, and Tonya Renee Stage, 51, all also face a charge of conspiracy to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance.

Mr. Sims said in the LSP release, “We are going to continue to invest time and resources into helping the citizens of Bogalusa. We are not finished.”

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.