AUGUSTA — In late November, agents from the Maine Drug Enforcement Administration responded to their fiftieth meth lab case. By the end of the next week, they’d processed several other drug operations, taken guns and cash into evidence, and brought new charges against previous felons.

Below are four recent reports provided by Maine law enforcement, plus a report of an early November arrest of nine individuals in Rumford.

Tuesday evening, Nov. 27, Bucksport and State Police searched the home of 49-year-old Adam Staples, at 396 Central Street in Bucksport. 

During their search, officers found what they thought were the makings of a methamphetamine lab. MDEA was contacted and an agent assigned to MDEA’s lab response team went to the home and confirmed that evidence of methamphetamine manufacturing was present.

Staples was already on probation for a burglary conviction. Conditions of that probation required Staples to allow law enforcement to search his home for drugs and alcohol.

Following confirmation of possessing a meth lab, Staples was taken to the Hancock County Jail for violating his probation.

The home was held overnight by police. MDEA agents returned to the home Wednesday to process the potentially hazardous evidence. Agents took samples of the contents of bottles that had been used to make methamphetamine and also catalogued an array of chemicals that had been used in the illicit and dangerous process.

MDEA agents planned to charge Staples with unlawful operation of a methamphetamine laboratory, a class B felony.

MDEA’s lab team was assisted Wednesday by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Bucksport Fire Department.  

This is the 50th meth lab response for the MDEA lab team this year.

Friday, Nov. 30, State Police, working with MDEA, have arrested a South Paris man on drug charges. Agents and troopers searched his home for suspected drugs, but investigators say the crack and heroin believed inside had been flushed down the toilet, as they were entering the home at 307 Oxford Street. 

Under arrest is 40-year-old Josiah Heath, charged with drug trafficking and possessing a firearm by a felon. 

Troopers searched the house following a lengthy criminal investigation into drug trafficking. The investigation revealed that Heath had been selling large quantities of cocaine base (crack) and heroin, and that there had been four drug overdoses at the home this year.

As troopers and agents approached the house last Friday, they found two unsuspecting customers, a 31-year-old male and a 22-year-old female, outside, who were waiting to purchase drugs from the residence. Located inside were Heath, along with three young women

One of the women was located in the bathroom and is suspected of destroying the drugs as troopers were entering the home. 

Located in the residence were items consistent with drug trafficking, to include scales and containers. Seized were three firearms and a portion of another firearm. One of the firearms, a pistol, had the serial number removed.

Heath, who was a convicted felon, admitted to purchasing the firearms illegally.

Prescription pills were also located.

Heath was arrested and charged with Attempted Trafficking of a Scheduled Drug and being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. He was being held at the Oxford County Jail .

The investigation into charges for the other occupants of the home continues. The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was contacted about the firearms violations. 

Assisting troopers were MDEA agents from the Lewiston office, and the South Paris Police and Fire Departments.

Saturday, Dec. 1, MDEA agents with the Downeast District Task Force, assisted by State Police, seized heroin and crack cocaine following a traffic stop in Newport.  Three persons were arrested. 

The vehicle was stopped along Interstate 95 in Newport based upon information gathered by MDEA during a drug  investigation.

The street value of the seized drugs was $3,000, and the trio was taken to the Penobscot County Jail. The drugs were headed for Washington County. 

Arrested are:

David Jones, 26, of Bronx, New York. Class A, Aggravated Trafficking in Heroin and Class C, Violation of Conditions of Release. 

Jones was on pre-conviction bail as a result of an August 3, arrest in Machiasport for Class B, Unlawful Trafficking in Cocaine. He is being held without bail.

Chuckie Langley, 32, of New York, New York. Class A, Aggravated Trafficking in Heroin and Class B, Unlawful Possession of Cocaine Base.

Langley is on parole from New York after serving eight years for attempted murder. He is being held without bail.

Holly Inman, 41, of Machias. Class A, Aggravated Trafficking in Heroin.

Inman was also charged by the state police with Operating After Suspension. Her bail was set at $35,000 cash.

On Wednesday, Dec. 5, MDEA Agents with the North Central Task Force, assisted by the Maine State Police and Penobscot County Sherriff’s office, arrested Shawn Bowman, 46, of Corinth, and Angel Lugo, 30, (male) of Bethlehem, CT, and executed a search warrant at Bowman’s home on Ledge Hill Road in Corinth. 

Several weeks ago MDEA agents opened an investigation into reports of heroin and crack cocaine sales from Bowman’s home in Corinth. That investigation included agents purchasing drugs directly from Bowman on at least two occasions. 

Wednesday, MDEA agents, troopers and deputy sheriffs raided Bowman’s home with a warrant and seized over twenty-eight grams of crack cocaine, four grams of heroin, a loaded 12 gauge shotgun, a loaded Glock 9mm pistol and $8,000, which is believed to be proceeds from the sale of drugs. 

Bowman is charged with two counts of unlawful trafficking in crack cocaine, one count of aggravated trafficking in crack cocaine and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person (felon). 

Lugo is charged with aggravated trafficking in crack cocaine. 

Both remain at the Penobscot County jail.

This investigation is continuing and more arrests are possible.

According to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, nine people were arrested in Rumford-Mexico, Monday evening, Nov. 6, and charged with drug trafficking and probation violations. Seized were oxycodone, cocaine and heroin.

Arrested are:

Kassandra Bryant (26) of Mexico, Maine

Trafficking Schedule W Drugs –Cocaine Base (Class A)
Failure to appear in court warrant
 

Wayne “Dog” Sinclair (59) of Mexico, Maine 

Aggravated Trafficking Schedule W Drugs –Cocaine Base (Class A)
Aggravated Trafficking Schedule W Drugs –Methamphetamine (Class A)

Mickiel James (30) of Dorchester, Massachusetts

(1) Trafficking Schedule W Drugs – Cocaine Base (Class B)

(2) Trafficking Schedule W Drugs - Oxycodone (Class A)

Scott Bousquet, 30, of Rumford, Maine

Aggravated Trafficking Schedule W Drugs - Oxycodone (Class A)
 

James Foss (38) of Mexico, Maine

Aggravated Trafficking Schedule W Drugs –Cocaine Base (Class A)
Aggravated Trafficking Schedule W Drugs –Methamphetamine (Class A)
Violation of Bail Condition (2 Counts)
 

Tymel Albritton (19) of Brooklyn, New York

Trafficking Schedule W Drugs –Cocaine Base (Class B)
Aggravated Trafficking Schedule W Drugs –Heroin (Class A)

Louise Lucci (40) of Rumford, Maine

Two Counts - Trafficking Schedule W Drugs –Cocaine Base (Class B)

Sara Paquette (27) of Rumford, Maine

Probation Violation

Elizabeth Ross (37) of Wilton, Maine

Probation Violation

Monday evening, Maine Drug Enforcement Agents assisted by state and local law enforcement officers served five search warrants in Rumford- Mexico. The warrants were part of a month-long investigation into drug trafficking by local and out of staters.  Seven people were charged with drug trafficking. 

The drugs involved were Cocaine Base (Crack), Heroin, Methamphetamine, and Oxycodone. Two additional people were charged with probation violations.

Seized during the searches were Cocaine and Heroin pre-packaged for distribution, 800 Oxycodone pills, scales and $20,000 in suspected drug proceeds. The street value of the seized drugs is $35.000.

All nine persons were transported to the Oxford County Jail. Bail was denied for Bryant, Sinclair, Foss, Bousquet and Lucci pending their initial appearance. Bail was set at $10,000 cash on Albritton and $25,000 cash on James.

A probation hold was ordered for Paquette and Ross.

Suspects are expected to make their initial court appearance on November 7.

Assisting in the case were officers from the Rumford, Mexico, and Norway police departments, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office and State Police.

Rumford Police Chief Stacy Carter said in a news release, “Local law enforcement considers this operation and arrests a victory for the community and could not have done it without the support and assistance of the community providing information. We continue to ask the community to report suspicious activity by either calling or using the available tip lines. 

“If you know of someone that is experiencing drug dependency, please encourage them to seek treatment through any local drug counseling services or by asking for help at any local law enforcement agency or hospital,” she said.