By Kevin Prentice
Local police, the Maine Drug Enforcement, and FBI agents have made multiple arrests in a large drug trafficking circuit that stretches from Lewiston, Maine all the way to New York State.
Through Androscoggin county all the way to the state of New York, 24 people have been arrested in planned raids. Charges include intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, having a heavily drug circulated premises, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, among others. This continuous investigation has been ongoing since the spring of 2014, when several local, state, and federal agencies including the FBI got involved.
Attorney Thomas Delahanty spoke in support of the system. “We want the drug dealers to know we’re coming after them and they cannot rest,” said Delahanty.
Other than reassurance, Delahanty didn’t reveal any specifics as it still has to go through the court system. According to court documents, affidavits filed revealed that officials were monitoring text messages between members involved in trafficking, recording phone calls, and using undercover informants and cooperating defendants to gather evidence.
Lieutenant Walter Grzyb of the Maine State Police said, “Drugs and drug trafficking is the route to almost every crime we investigate. It impacts burglaries, robberies, violent crimes that we see, impaired driving. This isn’t just about the drugs…the drug bust is about more than just getting dealers off the streets.”
Some of the individuals facing charges include:
- Ahmed S. Mohamed, 19, of Lewiston, Maine: aggravated trafficking of a scheduled drug.
- Larry Tower, 52, of Lewiston, Maine: unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs and unlawful possession of a scheduled drug.
- Debra Jean Hrbacek, 48, of Lewiston, Maine: unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs and unlawful possession of scheduled drug.
- Hassan Shamarr Miller, 20, of Lewiston, Maine: unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs.
- David A. Cole, 27, of Lewiston, Maine: unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs and conspiracy to commit unlawful trafficking of a scheduled drug.
- Nichole J. Doyle, 30, of Lewiston, Maine: unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs.
- Hector Cedeno, 20, of Lewiston, Maine: unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs.
- Breanna Lee, 23, of Lewiston, Maine: unlawful possession of a scheduled drug.
- April Lynn Collins, 33, of Auburn, Maine: unlawful possession of a scheduled drug.
- Anthony Leonard, 45, of Lewiston, Maine: unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs.
- Tasheem Carter, 29, of Far Rockaway, New York, and Lewiston, Maine: possession with intent to distribute cocaine and oxycodone.
- Christian Dent, 31, of Far Rockaway, New York, and Lewiston, Maine: conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Sabree Branch, 23, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Lewiston, Maine: use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of cocaine base, and unlawful use of a communication facility.
- Michael Boney, 28, of Far Rockaway, New York, and Auburn, Maine: possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.
- Isar Coleman, 31, of Lewiston, Maine: conspiracy to distribute cocaine base.
- Angela Crabtree, 32, of Auburn, Maine: possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.
- Katelynn Dubois, 21, of Wales, Maine: conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.
- Lee Eirby, 66, of Lewiston, Maine: maintaining a drug-involved premises.
- Isaac Fofie, 26, of New Sharon, Maine: conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of heroin.
- Kourtney Francoeur, 21, of Lewiston, Maine: conspiracy to distribute cocaine base.
- Jamel Hamilton, of Far Rockaway, New York: conspiracy to distribute heroin.
- Willie Jackson, 32, of Lewiston, Maine: possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.
- Rebecca Thompson, 33, of Lewiston, Maine: conspiracy to distribute cocaine base.
- Barney Whitfield, 33, of Lewiston, Maine: possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin.