MADISON, Maine — A Blackwell Hill Road man was arrested Thursday on felony drug charges after a raid at his home allegedly turned up what Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster described as a “substantial” drug arrest and seizure.
Jeremy J. Fitzmorris, 38, is charged with aggravated trafficking in a scheduled drug, a Class A felony crime that carries a prison sentence of up to 30 years, Lancaster said Friday in a news release.
Lancaster said that the trafficking charge was elevated to aggravated because of the amount of drugs seized during Thursday’s raid.
Fitzmorris also is charged with possession of heroin and possession of cocaine, both of which are Class C felonies that carry a maximum prison sentence of five years.
Lancaster said that additional felony and misdemeanor drug-related charges may be filed against Fitzmorris once all the seized drugs are processed and weighed.
According to Lancaster, a search warrant was carried out about 5:30 a.m. on Thursday at the residence that Fitzmorris shares with Tammy Clark. The search was conducted by a team of seven deputies, a Madison Division deputy and an agent from Maine Drug Enforcement Agency led by Somerset County Detective Lt. Carl Gottardi.
The execution of the search warrant was the culmination of a several-months-long investigation into Fitzmorris’ alleged sale of heroin and prescription pills to individuals throughout Somerset County, Lancaster said.
Drugs seized during the search were approximately 120 grams of heroin, about 20 grams of cocaine, several ounces of marijuana and prescription pills that now are being identified.
Also seized were digital scales and other drug-related paraphernalia.
Also seized were more than $6,400 cash, a Polaris ATV, a Honda ATV, a GMC pickup, a Nissan car and a 16-foot Loadrite trailer believed to be directly related to drug activity and proceeds.
The seized heroin has a retail street value of approximately $36,000, Lancaster said.
Lancaster said that heroin in Somerset County is being sold for $30-$35 per bag and most of the heroin seized on Thursday was packaged in 10-gram increments, referred to as “fingers.”
“Usually 10 bags of heroin can be derived from each gram of heroin,” Lancaster said. “The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office took approximately the equivalent of 1,100 bags/hits off the street.”
Lancaster estimated the street value of the cocaine at $2,000. He said the going rate for cocaine in Somerset County generally is $100 per gram.
Fitzmorris remained Friday at Somerset County Jail, where he is being held on cash bail set at $10,060, a jail official confirmed.
Lancaster said that charges are expected to be lodged against other persons who have been residing at the residence, once consultation and review has been completed with the Somerset County District Attorney’s Office.