BANGOR, Maine — Nine of 10 people charged in connection with a cocaine and oxycodone distribution ring allegedly operating in central Maine were arraigned Tuesday in U.S. District Court.
They are among 16 people indicted May 17 by a federal grand jury on charges related to the distribution of cocaine and oxycodone between Jan. 1 and March 17, 2012. The indictment was sealed until 10 of the defendants were arrested Tuesday.
The names of the other six defendants have been redacted. It is the practice of the U.S. attorney’s office to make defendants’ names public as they are arrested.
Arrested Tuesday were Maurice “Mo” McCray, 31, of Waterville and Farmington; Tara Pelletier, 31, of Waterville; Rodney Lacroix, 23, of Waterville; Justin Lacroix, 25, of Waterville; Jesse Jones, 24, of Waterville; Joshua Blodgett, 20, of Skowhegan; Saul Hernandez, 24, of Augusta; Patrick Hanson, 21, of Winslow; Brian Lemieux, 30, of Winslow; and Cassandra “Cassie” Ware, 22, of Farmington.
The Lacroixs are brothers, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
All are charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and 500 grams or more of cocaine, the most serious charge. Five hundred grams equals 17.5 ounces, or more than a pound of cocaine.
McCray also was indicted on two separate distribution counts, one for oxycodone and the other for cocaine.
He first was arrested in March after he allegedly sold oxycodone to a confidential informant. He has been held without bail since his arrest on March 17. McCray on Tuesday agreed to be held without bail on the new charges.
The earlier case, in which McCray was charged with distribution of a mixture or substance containing oxycodone, is unrelated to the new charges, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. McCray has pleaded not guilty to that charge.
Justin Lacroix, Blodgett and Hernandez also were indicted on one count each of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. In addition to that charge, Blodgett and Hernandez were indicted on a charge of possession with intent to distribute oxycodone.
All the defendants but Hanson on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in federal court in Bangor.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Casey, who is prosecuting the case, has filed motions asking that Justin Lacroix, Jesse Jones, Saul Hernandez and Hanson be held without bail pending the outcome of their cases. Bail hearings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Margaret Kravchuk are scheduled to be held later in the week.
If convicted of the conspiracy charge, each defendant faces a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of up to 40 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. The remaining charges each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Homeland Security Investigations, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, Maine State Police, the police departments of Waterville, Augusta, Fairfield, Oakland and Skowhegan, and the Somerset and Kennebec county sheriff’s offices. The Kennebec and Somerset County district attorney’s offices and the Maine attorney general’s office also provided assistance in the investigation.
The pictures are coming, all of them must be on file.
All this over a handful of pills and coke?
I wonder what it cost the taxpayers?
“The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration,
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Homeland Security
Investigations, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, Maine State Police, the
police departments of Waterville, Augusta, Fairfield, Oakland and
Skowhegan, and the Somerset and Kennebec county sheriff’s offices. The
Kennebec and Somerset County district attorney’s offices and the Maine
attorney general’s office also provided assistance in the investigation.”
Who cares what it costs…They’re doing their job catching these dealers and getting the crap off the street
Yea doing their job wasting money on petty drugs ,but hey they got to waste money some how!! what are gonna do when when big brother is all over you!
A POUND OF COKE “petty drugs”? I guess there is really no reason to comment to you anymore. Good luck.
Try not being a low life piece of s h!t and you wont have law enforcement breathing down your neck. You reap what you sow and actions deserve consequences. Unlike most of what the government does protecting its citizens IS part of its job.
Yes it is governments job to protect it citizens. I think where the government gets into trouble with most freedom loving Americans is when the government attempts to protect the citizenry from itself.
Sounds to me like you are a little nervous that Big Brother might be looking at you next? Anyone that would consider a pound or more of cocaine to be petty, obviously takes great pride in their own recreational habits and doesnt want it infringed on…All ya gotta know is that its ILLEGAL…plain and simple…I pray they all get the MAX….thanksfully its Federal so maybe they will
over a pound of cocaine is petty?! what sort of drug induced haze are you under?!
The taxpayers are getting screwed while everybody else earns a living off prohibition. We learned this lesson once; it’s going to be very expensive to learn it again. Meanwhile our deficits get bigger and bigger. Those that don’t study history are bound to repeat it.
“Five hundred grams equals 17.5 ounces, or more than a pound of cocaine.”
Way to be accurate.
You wonder what it cost taxpayers? Like that is REALLY what bothers you?! You have to be kidding! These drugs and the people that sell them are criminals. They are self-centered, have no conscience and don’t care who lives or dies. I think it is THEY who are more concerned with the money factor and how much they can get away with ! Maybe you are afraid you or your buds will be be next?
At any cost the drug problem has to be dealt with! Lives and families are at huge risk if something is not done to stop the trade and selling of drugs that are killing people every single day!
Handful of pills and coke. It says over 500 grams or over 1 pound. Thats a lot. To northernson
A pound of blow over a 8-10 week period isn’t alot. That’s why it’s conspiracy. They prob got a lil powder some pills and someone started talkin. In that time frame for a pound you could have it all gone by jus goin to the scum bars in Bangor. It’s news cuz of the federal mandatory minimums.
Can’t one find marchin’ powder at the ‘nice bars’ too?