The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office (IPSO) Special Investigation Unit (SIU) collaborated with several state and federal agencies on August 6, 2024, in executing a search warrant as part of a major firearms investigation. The agencies involved included the Louisiana State Police Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and the ATF.
The search warrant was executed at a residence located on the 600 block of Guiberteau Street in Jeanerette, Louisiana. The investigation focuses on the import and distribution of AR-15 “sears” and Glock “switches”. These components, when installed into a traditional semi-automatic firearm, illegally convert it into a weapon capable of firing multiple rounds with a single trigger press.
As a result of the search warrant, law enforcement recovered an AR-15 pistol with an installed sear, along with several other firearms and various weapon modification components.
Jayden Gerald Hopes was placed under arrest and charged with Possession or Dealing in Unregistered or Illegally Transferred Weapons (LARS 40:1785) and Possession of a Machine Gun (LARS 40:1752). He is currently being held in the Iberia Parish Jail on a $750,000 bond.
The investigation is ongoing, and further charges and arrests are expected.