Louisiana man facing several drug charges

A Louisiana man already facing drug charges from an August incident involving the Washington County Drug Task Force will face additional drug and gun-related charges after Washington County sheriff’s deputies pulled him over for a traffic violation Sept. 27 in South Strabane Township.
Thomas Thammavong, 21, whose new address is 168 Country Club Road, Washington, was charged with receiving stolen property, possessing a firearm with an altered manufacturer number and firearms not to be carried without a license after deputies they found a stolen handgun in his vehicle.
Deputies said they initiated the traffic stop just after 8 p.m. in the 300 block of Oak Spring Road because Thammavong was driving without proper rear lights. Police said they smelled marijuana when they approached the vehicle.
Upon searching the vehicle, deputies said they found a stolen .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun, 37 grams of suspected cocaine, marijuana, a digital scale and other paraphernalia.
Thammavong also was charged with possession with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and a summary traffic violation.
These charges come just one month after the county’s drug task force allegedly caught Thammavong selling crack cocaine in South Strabane Township. Detectives had been investigating narcotics trafficking in and around Washington throughout the month of August, and Thammavong was one of their targets, according to the criminal complaint.
Three detectives arranged for a confidential informant to purchase cocaine from Thammavong. Police did not release the time or date of the alleged transaction but said it took place in the 300 block of Washington Road. Police said they set up surveillance and watched Thammavong sell cocaine to the informant.
Thammavong is free on $20,000 bond and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for 9:15 a.m. Nov. 14 before District Judge Jay Weller.