Arrest of Drug Dealer Leads To Forfeiture of a Vehicle and Money

Arrest of Drug Dealer Leads To 

Forfeiture of a Vehicle and Money

On 5/16/2025, Deputies from the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office Traffic Division conducted a traffic stop on I-49 Southbound.  After further investigation, it was determined that the driver, identified as Joseph A. Vilches, had active warrants out of San Jose, California.  After placing him under arrest, a search of his vehicle was conducted.  During the search, Vilches was found to have 104 Grams of Marijuana and 108 Grams of Crystal Meth.  The drugs were seized along with $2379.00 and his 2023 Ford F350 truck.  Vilches was booked into the Evangeline Parish Jail, where he later made Bond.

A Forfeiture hearing was conducted by the 13th Judicial District Court, where the Judge ordered the truck and money to be forfeited to the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office.  If you see the F350, you can thank the drug dealer.  It is currently being used in the EPSO fleet.  

As always, Sheriff Charles R. Guillory and the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office encourage anyone with information regarding criminal activity to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 337-363-2161 or submit a tip through the agency's website at www.evangelineparishsheriff.org. Any person(s) reporting information will remain anonymous.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.