AUGUSTA — Street gang members were likely among 10 people arrested in a heroin bust on Wednesday morning, according to police.
Augusta Police Department’s Special Response Team along with members of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office, Maine State Police and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration searched a residence on Penly Street at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
Officers seized 45 grams of heroin and approximately five grams of a substance believed to be methamphetamine, according to the MDEA. The heroin has an estimated street value of $10,000.
After the search, eight adults and one 17-year-old female were arrested for the same felony charges — Class A aggravated trafficking in Schedule W drugs and Class B conspiracy to traffic in Schedule W drugs. The charges were elevated to aggravated due to the amount of heroin seized, according to the MDEA. Heroin is a Class W drug.
Arrested for the felony offenses were: Ricquell Lindo, 20; Tyshawn Mack, 21; Nathaniel Taylor, 19; Tyrone Wilkins, 23; Darvent Cummings, 22; Kenya Evans, 20 — all from Stroudsburg, Penn., Shaquanna Khaleelah, 18, of Mt. Pocono, Penn.; Peter Gleason, 32, of Augusta and a 17-year-old female, who was not named by police.
Ryan Minoty, 21, of Augusta was charged with unlawful possession of Schedule W drugs and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
Lindo, Mack, Williams and Cummings had bail set for $50,000 cash. Bail for Taylor was set at $25,000 cash, while Gleason, Khaleelah and Evans had bail set at $10,000 cash. All remain in Kennebec County Jail.
Minoty was released on $1,500 unsecured bond.
Those unable to make bail will appear in Kennebec County Superior Court in Augusta on Friday.
More arrests are likely, according to the MDEA.
Some of those arrested are members or affiliates of a violent street gang known as the Almighty Black P. Stones, according to the MDEA.
“MDEA Director Roy McKinney and Augusta Police Chief Robert Gregoire join in their concern about the prevalence of organized and often violent out of state drug trafficking organizations now operating in the State of Maine,” read the statement released by MDEA. “This investigation highlights the importance of focused, inter-agency cooperation on these types of investigations.”
A Class A charge carries a term of up to 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $50,000. A Class B charge carries a term of up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $20,000.
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