FARMINGTON — Two Wilton residents and a Massachusetts woman have each been indicted on a federal charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession of the opioid fentanyl.
Dennis Ayala, 55, and Andrea Hoffman, 35, both of Wilton, and Patricia “Mama” Pimentel, 24, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, were charged Aug. 23 with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl, according to court documents.
The three are accused of engaging in the criminal activity from at least March 5 to Aug. 15. They face a minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison, if convicted.
Ayala and Pimentel were also each indicted on a charge of aiding and abetting the possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl on or about May 22. A conviction also carries a prison sentence of between five and 40 years.
Ayala pleaded not guilty Thursday in federal court, according to his attorney, Walter McKee.
Pimentel pleaded not guilty Aug. 27, according to a court document.
Both are in federal custody.
Hoffman was arrested Thursday, according to a court document.
Ayala, a convicted drug dealer, has two pending cases in Franklin County.
He was indicted by a Franklin County grand jury June 28 on a charge of dealing crack cocaine from his home on Temple Road in Wilton in April. The charge stems from an investigation by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office into the fatal drug overdose of a Wyman Township man last spring.
Investigators received information leading them to Ayala’s residence, where police seized $6,628 in cash believed to be drug money, scales, crack cocaine, heroin and “numerous other items related to illicit drug use, packaging and sale,” according to Detective Stephen Charles’ affidavit.
Ayala posted $5,000 cash bail and was released April 20 from the Franklin County Detention Center. He pleaded not guilty to the state charges July 24.
After an unsuccessful attempt to do a bail check on him May 23, Maine State Police got a search warrant and found Ayala in his attic with marijuana plants, according to a court document. He was charged with felony unlawful possession of a drug that contained fentanyl powder and two misdemeanor charges of violating bail.
Ayala’s bail in the May 23 case was set at $50,000 cash or $100,000 single surety.
Before he could make bail, he was taken into federal custody. He was arrested on a federal warrant June 7 on two federal felonies similar to the charges in the recent federal indictment. The case against him, including a complaint and warrant for his arrest, was sealed May 25. It was unsealed on June 7. He pleaded not guilty to those charges later that month.
Ayala was convicted June 2, 1997, in Kennebec County of aggravated trafficking in illegal drugs.
dperry@sunmediagroup.net
Dennis Ayala (Franklin County Detention Center)
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