FARMINGTON — Four people were indicted Wednesday by a Franklin County grand jury on a charge stemming from a methamphetamine operation in Phillips that was broken up July 15.

Jason Fowler, 40, of Chesterville, Michael Halle, 45, and Erin Smith, 43, both of Phillips, and Kimberly Webber, 25, of Vienna were each indicted on one felony charge of unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs.

A conviction on the charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Maine Drug Enforcement Agency officers and Franklin County Sheriff’s Detective Kenneth Charles began investigating Fowler on July 9 after receiving information from a confidential informant.

Charles, who was the first to learn Fowler was making the drug, stopped Fowler’s Jeep in Avon and arrested him on a charge of driving without a license.

Police found items in the Jeep that were consistent with making methamphetamine, a highly addictive stimulant. Webber, a passenger in the vehicle, had control of some of the drug in the car, according to a drug agent’s affidavit filed with the court.

Webber admitted to investigators to using methamphetamine but contended she never saw it being made, the affidavit states.

Webber also told investigators that she and Fowler had been staying at a residence on Rangeley Road in Phillips with Halle.

According to Webber, it is also believed that Halle was teaching several individuals, including Fowler, how to make methamphetamine, the court document states.

She also admitted to buying lithium batteries for Fowler. The batteries and cold packs are two ingredients used to making the drug, the document states.

When Halle and Smith were questioned by agents at the Phillips residence, after they were read their Miranda rights, both of them admitted they participated in manufacturing methamphetamine with Fowler, the affidavit states.

Halle directed agents to a second-floor bedroom where a supervising agent identified items he knows to be used in making the drug.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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