AUGUSTA — Three central Maine residents arrested in a drug bust that netted 1.4 pounds of fentanyl have been indicted by a Kennebec County grand jury on drug trafficking charges, and, between them, face forfeiture of more than $75,000, according to court documents.
Courtney Brown, 22, of Oakland, Steven Recore, 27, of Madison and Jonathan Charron, 33, whose address is listed in Oakland in some charges and Madison in others, were arrested March 18 in a raid that netted the fentanyl from Charron’s vehicle and house, according to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Police also seized $9,391 from Charron’s house and $8,786 from his vehicle. Alleging the money was connected to drug trafficking, the state is seeking to claim it through the criminal forfeiture process.
The state is also seeking forfeiture of $57,060 from Brown and Charron, requesting seizure of it upon their indictment. Prosecutors allege the money was also connected to drug trafficking.
Prosecutors are also seeking forfeiture of four guns, two magazines and ammunition seized in the bust, and Charron’s vehicle, a 2011 Ford Flex, according to court documents.
MDEA agents based in Augusta had been investigating a group they believed to be distributing fentanyl in Somerset County, according to a statement the agency released to the news media. Officials allege Charron was making trips outside the state to buy drugs to sell in Maine.
Charron and Recore were stopped by police in Charron’s vehicle May 18, 2020, after exiting Interstate 95 northbound in Sidney. Police found fentanyl powder, two handguns and the $8,786 in cash.
Later that day, police searched Charron’s house and found 33 grams of fentanyl, bringing the total sized to about 1.4 pounds, along with two rifles and the $9,391.
A grand jury indicted the three suspects last week on two counts each of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder).
Brown was also indicted on a charge of violation of conditions of release April 8 in Oakland, for allegedly having contact with Charron, which was banned by her bail conditions.
Charron was also indicted on charges related to police finding him in possession April 8 in Oakland of methamphetamine and fentanyl powder.
In that case, Charron was indicted on two counts of unlawful possession of schedule W drugs (methamphetamine in one count, fentanyl powder in the other), five counts of violation of conditions of release and criminal forfeiture of a firearm.
An indictment is not a determination of guilt, but it indicates that there is enough evidence to proceed with formal charges and a trial.
Also indicted by a Kennebec County grand jury, which convened April 22 and 23 at the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta:
• Michelle H. Campbell, 30, of Mount Vernon, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), violation of condition of release and illegal possession of hypodermic apparatuses, June 29, 2020, in Augusta, and two counts of violation of condition of release, Aug. 28, 2020, in Mount Vernon.
• Tysean Clarke, 24, of Manhattan, NY, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (cocaine) and unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs (cocaine), Jan. 24, in Gardiner.
• Timothy Colvin, 39, address unknown, unlawful trafficking in schedule W drugs (cocaine base), June 2, 2020, in Augusta, and unlawful trafficking in schedule W drugs (fentanyl powder), Aug. 26, 2020, in Augusta.
• Brian J. Coutu, 32, of Augusta, unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder) and violation of condition of release, March 3, in Waterville.
• Matthew J. Davidson, 34, of Fairfield, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (cocaine), aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (cocaine base), possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, aggravated unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs (marijuana), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (psilocybin mushrooms), falsifying physical evidence, refusing to submit to arrest, violation of condition of release and three counts of criminal forfeiture of $4,306, $300 and a shotgun, March 3, in Waterville.
• Benjamin Dee, 37, unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs (methamphetamine) and violation of condition of release, Feb. 2, in Waterville.
• Toni L. Geisinger, 32, of Randolph, aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), aggravated unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs (cocaine base), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (Alprazolam), illegal possession of hypodermic apparatuses, violation of condition of release and criminal forfeiture of $593, Feb. 12, in Augusta.
• Allen J. James Jr., 39, of Augusta, two counts of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder) and criminal forfeiture of $2,180, March 21, in Waterville.
• Robert A. Keever, 35, of Winslow, marijuana cultivation, Dec. 16, 2020, in Vassalboro.
• Ryan G. Mathieu, 44, of Waterville, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (methamphetamine), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (cocaine base), violation of condition of release and criminal forfeiture of $1,566, March 20, in Waterville.
• David McCadney, 38, of Augusta, two counts of aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs (cocaine base), June 14, 2019, and June 28, 2019, in Augusta.
• Franzie E. Pinkham, 40, of Windsor, unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder) and violation of condition of release, March 2, in Waterville.
• Amos D. Roman, 32, of Bronx, N.Y., aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (cocaine), aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (cocaine base), possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, falsifying physical evidence and criminal forfeiture of a handgun.
• Cory Toothaker, 35, of Augusta, unlawful trafficking in schedule W drugs (fentanyl powder) and two counts of violation of condition of release, March 2, in Augusta.
• Keirstin S. Smith, 31, of Mercer, unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs (methamphetamine) and theft by unauthorized taking, Oct. 14, 2020, in Waterville.
• John Stewart, 62, of Winthrop, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (cocaine) and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (cocaine), March 10, 2020, in Winthrop.
• Ashley Wilber, 37, of Brewer, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (methamphetamine), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (suboxone), violation of condition of release and two counts of criminal forfeiture, of $991 and $3,121, March 3, in Waterville.
• Anthony Williams, 36, of Augusta, two counts of unlawful trafficking in schedule W drugs (methamphetamine), Sept. 21, 2020, and Sept. 29, 2020, in Augusta, and one count of unlawful trafficking in schedule W drugs (heroin), Sept. 29, 2020, in Augusta.
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