WALDOBORO, Maine — Seven people were arrested Wednesday and charged for what police say were their roles in the importation and distribution of heroin and crack cocaine into the midcoast area.
For the past month, agents from the Mid-Coast District Task Force along with investigators from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Waldoboro Police Department conducted an investigation into the illegal distribution of heroin and crack cocaine by out-of-state drug traffickers, according to a news release from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
According to the MDEA, New York-based drug traffickers Chas Echols, 24, and Rashad Newsome, 24, both of Rochester, New York, rented cars weekly in order to travel back and forth from New York to Maine. Each trip the two transported heroin and crack cocaine to Maine to be sold throughout the greater Thomaston, Rockland and Waldoboro areas, agents said.
Echols and Newsome were both charged with aggravated trafficking in crack cocaine.
Also charged were:
— Brianna Parlin, 24, of Rockland, Class B trafficking in heroin and crack cocaine.
— Felichia Glidden, 22, of Waldoboro, Class B trafficking in crack cocaine.
— Chris Knight, 24, of Rockland, felony possession of heroin and violating a condition of release.
— Harley Winchenbach, 23, of Waldoboro, Class A aggravated trafficking in heroin and two warrants for unpaid fines.
— Sydni Barham, 28, of Rockland, Class B trafficking in heroin and crack cocaine.
The MDEA stated in its news release that Echols and Newsome were assisted in their drug trafficking by a number of locals, including but not limited to Parlin, Glidden, Winchenbach and Barham. These locals assisted by selling heroin and crack cocaine, recruiting new customers and allowing Echols and Newsome to use their apartments as trafficking locations and to evade police, according to the MDEA.
During the past month undercover agents were able to make purchases of heroin and crack cocaine from several members of the group, the release states.
Early Wednesday morning, shortly after midnight, MDEA agents executed a search warrant at 44 Staley Lane in Waldoboro, the residence of Glidden and Winchenbach. Arrested inside were Echols, Newsome, Parlin and Glidden.
All were taken to the Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.
Agents seized from the residence about 40 grams of crack cocaine, 6 grams of heroin, Suboxone strips, the prescription drug Ritalin, packaging materials and $5,000 of suspected drug proceeds. Agents estimated the street value of the seized drugs at $10,000.
Knight and Winchenbach were arrested after the car they were in was stopped by Waldoboro
police leaving the Staley Lane residence. A small amount of heroin was seized from Knight at that time. Both were taken to the Two Bridges Regional Jail.
Agents and Rockland police arrested Barham at her Broadway Street apartment in Rockland and took her to the Knox County Jail in Rockland. MDEA indicated that the apartment was one used by Echols and Newsome to distribute their drugs.
Agents anticipate additional charges and arrests this week as part of the investigation and grand jury process.
Bail was set at $50,000 cash for Echols, Newsome and Winchenbach. Bail for Parlin and Glidden was set at $5,000 cash each. Knight is being held without bail due to bail violation. Barham’s bail has yet to be set.
Also assisting throughout the investigation and search warrant were members of the Maine Warden Service, Thomaston police, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Rockland police, Maine State Police and the Investigation Unit of the Maine State Prison.