According to Prosecutor Onofri, the initial investigation focused on the alleged drug activities of H-Block, and through informant information, controlled buys, surveillances and intelligence, authorities were able to obtain and execute more than 40 warrants of individuals, vehicles and locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Operation Eight-Ball developed over six months of investigation. An official website of the United States government. BOSTON Three individuals were charged today in connection with a drug trafficking conspiracy involving cocaine, cocaine base, fentanyl and methamphetamine supplied by sources in Massachusetts and spanning into Maine. Drug agents from MDEAs Downeast Task Force in Ellsworth and Hancock County Sheriffs deputies responded to the scene to assist Marine Patrol officers. Maine drug agents say they found a lot of drugs and cash when they searched a home in the Aroostook County town of Wade.When agents with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency Aroostook County Task . It is not clear from court documents whether the guns described in the affidavit were obtained in Maine or somewhere else. Over a span of five days, Kleffman is accused of making three trips to the Bangor property from her home in Trenton to conduct drug transactions with the group, according to court documents. David Foot. Cops didn't . Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Officers seized a "large quantity" of analogue drugs, similar to Xanax and Adderall, some of which were suspected to contain fentanyl, police said. Thank you for reading. Published: Aug. 17, 2020 at 6:15 PM PDT. According to Prosecutor Onofri, the total retail value of the confiscated drugs is $228,000. Additionally, information obtained during Operation Eight-Ball directly linked Tyzir Hamilton, 19, Treizon Thompson, 20, and Darnell Davis, 19, to the murders of William Irizarry and Julius Vargas. Trenton Police proudly announced an apparent major drug bust at the city's Budget Inn led to the arrest of dozen people and seizure of more than $1,700 in suspected drug funds. Lock The charge of conspiring to possess, use and carry firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy provides for a maximum sentence of life in prison because a machinegun was involved in the offense, five years of supervised release and fine of up to $250,000. Randal Cousineau, 69, of Farmington, pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to illegally cultivate and sell more than a ton of marijuana and more than 1,000 marijuana plants, according to the . He said it later tested positive for cocaine base, with a weight of 0.5 grams. Download here. During a search, agents in . Robert Mann, 42, of Ellsworth is charged with Class A aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs (fentanyl, crack cocaine, methamphetamine). Updated: 7:54 PM EST December 16, 2021. While we work hard to keep you informed about the Midcoast community, how citizens cope and thrive, we need your help, too. Murtiffs affidavit said he later attempted to review video footage, but for unknown reasons the electronic monitoring device had only recorded audio of the controlled drug buy. Their arrests have made the community safer, and DEA will continue to work with our partners to pursue those who violate the law., Operation Eight-Ball was an enormous investigative endeavor and as a result, many violent offenders have been taken off of the street, said Prosecutor Onofri. If she is found guilty on the drug trafficking conspiracy charge, she faces an additional 20 years in prison and an additional $1 million fine. Holden police say they pulled over a car for a routine traffic stop on Sunday and discovered a gun, cash, heroin . It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. Create a password that only you will remember. On Dec. 22, Murtiff again directed the informant to make contact with Magee about purchasing illegal drugs, and the informant texted Magee to make arrangements. Members of the conspiracy also allegedly possessed numerous firearms, including at least one fully-automatic firearm with a selector switch that converts a semi-automatic firearm into a machinegun, in order to protect the drug trafficking operation and target rival drug trafficking operators. The arrests began in December and continued Thursday. The charges were elevated to the most serious class due to the quantity of drugs seized, along with the presence of firearms, according to Arno. The remaining 11 suspects were charged with violating local ordinances and were released pending court. "Our Deputy Attorneys General stand ready to prosecute these defendants to bring them to justice," she said. Worcester:508-368-0100. Springfield:413-785-0235 ELLSWORTH Three people arrested in a July drug bust in Southwest Harbor were indicted Dec. 7 by a Hancock County grand jury.. Scott Cote, 30, Shannon Wass, 43, both of Southwest Harbor, and Torrie McIntosh-Figueroa, 26, of Brooklyn, N.Y., were among the six people arrested July 14 after agents with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) executed search warrants at two residences on the . On Tuesday, September 13, 2022, members of the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force, the Drug Enforcement . ANSON Five people were arrested Tuesday after investigators searched a home in Anson and seized property that was reportedly stolen in Winslow, several firearms and illegal drugs, including . Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Davon Campbell, 25, of Ypsilanti, Michigan is charged with class A aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs (fentanyl, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS All three were still incarcerated Tuesday afternoon, according to jail officials. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Last summer, when Minier-Tejada and an unnamed co-conspirator were stopped in a vehicle in Maine en route to Massachusetts, police found six firearms in a hidden compartment in the vehicle, including a Sig Sauer pistol that matches the appearance of a gun Minier-Tejada can be seen shooting in one of the videos. Detroit and Michigan's only all-news station. In January of this year, a co-conspirator unnamed in federal court documents was found in Massachusetts in possession of a semi-automatic gun with a selector switch attachment that enabled the gun to be used as a fully-automatic machine gun, according to the FBI. CHECK OUT WMTW:Stay informed with the latest Portland news and weather from the team at WMTW. Maine women charged with drug trafficking after early morning . Earlier this month, the two Massachusetts men and others suspected to be involved in the drug ring rented a house in Bangor through an online vacation home rental service and used it as a place for Kleffman to pick up drug deliveries, according to the FBI. Published: Nov. 12, 2021 at 10:06 AM PST. MSP said, following "an extensive investigation," the Metro Narcotics Enforcement Team (M.N.E.T.) 02/04/2010 Suspected Meth Lab raided. Drugs, cash, guns seized in downriver raid. Take the Latch Electric Folding Bike Anywhere, Popular free publication that is mailed to Midcoast, Cottage Connection of Maine Vacation Rentals Since 1993, Jazz in June: Grace Kelly + Staci Griesbach, Thomaston Light Presents Serendipity Online Auction, Vintage Accents Begins Worldly Wonders Online Timed Auction, New Hope Midcoast Relies on Clothing and Accessory Donations for Its Largest Fundraiser, SAT Prep Matters & Boot Camps with Dr. Mary Smyth - Online this Spring, The University of Maine Hutchinson Center, FREE Family Film: The BFG, at The Waldo Theatre on Sunday, March. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Again, the charge was aggravated due to the amount of heroin seized, McCausland said. On average more than 50 Maine citizens per month have died due to drug overdose this year, the release said. of Public Safety said Sept. 1 in a news release. Minier remains wanted on an FBI arrest warrant, according to federal prosecutors. Authorities said one person supplied methamphetamine and cocaine to others, and that the drugs were distributed in the Concord area, Lakes Region, and Maine. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. The investigation continued into 2021 and last week, search warrants were executed at locations in Trenton and Ewing, New Jersey, and Bristol and Morrisville, Pennsylvania. Magee was charged with two counts of unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs, and Barrows with one count of that same charge. Bail was set at $60,000 cash. Prosecutors in Atlantic County have charged 30 people in connection to a large-scale drug trafficking ring that stretched across several parts of New Jersey for over four years, the Atlantic . //]]> Breyon Newkirk, 30, West State Street, Trenton - Charged with multiple first- and second-degree drug charges (Date of arrest 5/13/19). of Public Safety). Charges were aggravated due to the amount of drugs seized, according to Arno. TRENTON, N.J. (WPVI) -- An investigation that targeted a violent drug network in Trenton has led to the arrest of seven suspect - two . SANFORD, MAINE - The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency announces the arrests of two people for trafficking in heroin/fentanyl and the seizure of more than eight pounds of the drug - half of the amount seized in Sanford, Maine, and the other half seized in Massachusetts, with NH connections. The homeowners, Jere and Judy Waterman, allegedly allowed a New York man, Raqwan Ryant, to use their home to sell fentanyl, according to the release. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. TRENTON, N.J. Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administrations New Jersey Division Susan A. Gibson, and Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri today announced that a six-month, multi-jurisdictional investigation of narcotics distribution and violent crime in the Mercer County area has culminated with the arrest of 18 individuals and the seizure of approximately 1,000 grams of heroin, 1,000 grams of methamphetamine, 15 pounds of marijuana, 11 guns, six vehicles and more than $22,000 in cash. A locked padlock The MDEA will continue to identify, disrupt, and dismantle those who traffic deadly drugs throughout Maine, it said. An affidavit filed by Augusta Detective Benjamin Murtiff states that at the direction of police, the unidentified informant contacted Magee on Dec. 19 through text messages and phone calls, requesting to purchase $50 worth of cocaine base, and Magee agreed to meet with him at Barrows residence, the 17 Summer St. apartment. Further investigation revealed that the apartment was being rented to suspected drug traffickers from the Detroit, Michigan area, according to Arno. HERMON, Maine Six people were arrested in Hermon and charged with felony drug trafficking offenses Wednesday as the result of a months-long investigation by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA), commander Peter Arno said in a release Friday. September 27, 2016 by Mark Good on Breaking News, . The six people arrested are connected to a "significant" drug trafficking organization based in Detroit, Michigan, according to Arno. Subsequently, Arno said agents were able to identify a garage apartment of a house on Cedar Brook Drive in Hermon from which the drugs were being trafficked. The investigation, which included the undercover purchase of these drugs, resulted in the arrests of three men and a woman from Hancock County, according to Arno. Assistant U.S. The MDEA said the group is believed to be responsible for the distribution of large amounts of drugs throughout Hancock and Penobscot Counties. In addition, 23 grams of cocaine, 7 grams of MDMA commonly known as Molly or ecstasy 11 firearms and $5,464 in cash were seized, according to MSP . Learn more. Prior to the execution of these warrants, surveillance officers followed Deshawn Abner as he traveled by cab from Bond Street in Trenton to the Extended Stay Motel on Route 1 in West Windsor where Abner and a second individual, identified as Aziz Stroman, were observed searching a wooded area around the hotel. 1 Courthouse Way, Suite 9200 Drug bust nets three. Add your email address and we'll send you central Maine news, weather updates and traffic alerts as they happen. Thirteen people have been arrested on drug charges in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts after multiple agencies conducted a months-long drug trafficking investigation. Also arrested inside the vehicle were Vincent Bowman and Zaire Jones. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Show Transcript. Browse the newest Portland . TAMICA FREEMEN, 37, of Trenton Possession with intent to distribute heroin Possession of heroin Money laundering. Armani Minier-Tejada, a/k/a Shotz a/k/a Gustavo, 22, of Salem; Miguel Minier, 55, of Lynn; and Shelby Kleffman, 31, of Trenton, Maine, were charged by criminal complaint with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances including cocaine, cocaine base, fentanyl and methamphetamine. As a result, detectives arrested 25 people and seized three handguns, $264,000 worth of heroin, $52,000 worth of cocaine, $1,700 worth of ecstasy, $1,900 worth of marijuana, $13,676 cash, drug packaging materials, and drug paraphernalia. Maine State Police and the Waldo County Sheriffs Office found a loaded rifle, fentanyl, and approximately $10,000 in suspected drug proceeds in a Belmont drug bust. TRENTON - An Illinois man is facing drug trafficking charges after he was ensnared in a monthslong operation targeting drug pushers in . Detectives observed several members of the group to be in possession of handguns and, as a result, obtained a search warrant for the residence. GLEN MOORE, 47, of Whiting Township Possession of heroin . 11 Charged Open to all, supported by readers. Tradewinds sold to Hannaford, Lawrences announce retirement, Investigation leads to arrest of two women and seizure of nearly $100K in fentanyl, Deer Isle man arrested Wednesday night after Blue Hill search, Man charged after allegedly taking a truck to rescue his own, Former golf course property to be conserved. Agents were assisted in the investigation by the Waldo County Sheriffs Office. Charges were aggravated due to the amount of drugs seized, according to Arno. Both Abner and Stroman were charged with first-degree narcotic offenses. During this investigation, MDEA agents assigned to the Aroostook Task Force in Houlton, Maine, gathered evidence of the groups . ST. ALBANS, Maine (WABI) - Four people are facing charges after a drug bust in St. Albans. According to court documents, Kleffman could face life in federal prison if she is found guilty of possessing firearms in support of a drug trafficking conspiracy and if one of the guns used or possessed as part of that conspiracy is classified as a machine gun. Minier-Tejadas case was moved to federal court in Massachusetts, while Kleffmans initial appearance was continued to an unspecified date. Become an online member today: To manage your account, just hover and click on your name above. Police charged Kleffman with Class A aggravated trafficking in heroin. Lawrence man among 3 suspects arrested in Maine drug bust; nearly 3 pounds of fentanyl seized, police say By Matt Yan Globe Correspondent, Updated March 31, 2022, 2:40 p.m. Email to a Friend In the afternoon of August 31, agents executed a search warrant at the Watermans residence. //