Man arrested with $5,400 worth of steroids in 18 boxes of one vial each; Woman booked with 7 bags of marijuana and $1,833 cash in three stacks

Mark Fortuna, arrested with $5,400 worth of steroids in St. Bernard Parish

Ashleigh Sosa of Destrahan, booked with 7 bags of marijuana and $1,833 cash in three stacks

A Meraux man was arrested with $5,400 worth of anabolic steroids in 18 boxes of one vial each hidden in his home after sheriff’s narcotics officers were called there on a possible overdose of another man who had been there but left, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Mark Fortuna, 28, 3001 St. Marie, was booked with possession of a Schedule III controlled dangerous substance, an anabolic steroid known as Sustanon 250.

Fortuna, also booked with probation violation, was being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond set at $8,000. He has a probation hold from Louisiana state probation officials that would prevent his release on bond.

Officers of the Narcotics Unit attempted to make contact at Fortuna’s residence on July 25 to check out the report of someone possibly overdosing and made a forced entry when no one answered the door, Pohlmann said.

When they got inside they found Fortuna, who appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance. He said the person that someone reported may be overdosing there had left with another man.

While some officers secured the scene, others went to the home of the man they sought and after finding him there also apparently under the influence of a drug, they saw drug paraphernalia in the residence booked him and another man with possession of the paraphernalia, Pohlmann said. Medical help was also called in.

At Fortuna’s residence, Louisiana probation and parole agents arrived to conduct a compliance search of the home, with deputies on the scene, because Fortuna is on probation, the sheriff said.

An agent located the 18 boxes of steroids worth about $5,400 in the residence and Fortuna was arrested.

The sheriff said that in an unrelated case, Ashleigh Sosa, 25, of Destrehan was booked the night of July 26 with possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Seven small bags of marijuana and three stacks of cash containing $1,833 were found in the vehicle when she was stopped by Sheriff’s Dep. Tommy Lala for a traffic violation.

Sosa also had several hand-rolled cigarettes of marijuana and numerous small clear plastic bags used in distribution of drugs.

She was booked into St. Bernard Parish Prison but has been released on bond. The bond amount wasn’t available.