MONROE – An eighteen-year veteran State Police sergeant has been arrested Monday by troopers from the agency’s Bureau of Investigation and charged him with a variety of criminal violations including narcotics distribution, according to Superintendent of State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson.

State Police announced the arrest Tuesday afternoon. Ronald Thomas, 42, was immediately suspended from duty pending the outcome of an administrative investigation.

Prior to his arrest Thomas had been assigned as the evidence custodian for northern Louisiana investigative operations.

Thomas is charged with payroll fraud, malfeasance in office, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, and obstruction of justice.

Troopers executed a search warrant on Thomas’ property and seized nearly $50,000 in cash and an allegedly stolen weapon. Other items have also been seized and are currently being processed.

Investigators also arrested 38-year-old Leonard Dunn of Monroe. Dunn was charged with 3 counts of distribution of marijuana and 1 count of distribution of hydrocodone. Thomas apparently had conspired with Dunn to sell large quantities of cocaine in northeast Louisiana. Thomas also apparently made attempts to warn Dunn that he was being investigated and instructed Dunn to destroy evidence and dispose of money.

If convicted on all charges Thomas faces up to a $76,000 fine and 92 years in prison. If convicted on all charges Dunn faces up to a $65,000 and 40 years in prison.