Drug agents pull 30 offenders off the streets

An investigation that started earlier this year has led to the arrest of 30 suspects in Southern and Central Aroostook in a wide-sweeping prescription drug crackdown.
    “In April of 2008, MDEA agents assigned to the Aroostook Regional Task Force began a criminal investigation focused on the retail distribution of prescription narcotic pain killers in Aroostook County. Based upon a deluge of reports from local residents, especially from communities in Southern Aroostook, agents moved to identify the suspects and to collect information on their illegal activities,” said Division Commander Darrell Crandall, on behalf of MDEA Director Roy E. McKinney.
According to Crandall, undercover MDEA agents focused on Central and Southern Aroostook, using various forms of information as the case developed.
“Undercover MDEA agents moved in and out of Southern Aroostook as well as Central Aroostook for more than two months, using informants, surveillance and other investigative means to gather evidence, and in all of the cases drugs were purchased from the suspects,” explained Crandall.
Maine statistics indicate an average of 200 people have died annually in recent years due to accidental drug overdoses, with a large portion of those deaths due to misuse of prescription painkillers, according to the MDEA.
“Prescription drug abuse is rampant in Maine and has been a significant problem for some time. For the past few years, more than 200 people have died each year from accidental drug overdoses, a large number of which are directly tied to prescription painkillers. In at least two of those years, more people died from this cause than perished in highway fatalities,” said Crandall.
Over the past few weeks, agents wrapped up the active phase of the investigation, arresting the following individuals for trafficking in Hydrocodone (commonly known by the trade names of Vicodin and Anexia):
* Jason Watson, 24, Joshua Wenzlof, 28; and Denise Hitchcock, 38 – all of Island Falls;
* Robert Mayo, 80, of Silver Ridge ;
*    Horace Russell, 49, of Merrill;
*    Thomas Woodbury, 47, of Hodgdon; and
*    Todd Cochran, 35, and Heather Cochran, 29 – both of Caribou.
Arrested for trafficking in Oxycodone and/or OxyContin were:
*    Dwayn “Davy” Anderson, 46, (Anderson was already on bail for a trafficking arrest); David Landry, 23; Heidi White, 28 – all of Houlton;
*    Chad Pocock, 28, of Stacyville;
*    Calvin Bouchard, 48, and Verne Lee, 62 – both of Oakfield;
*    Danny Carr, 26, of Silver Ridge;
*    Richard Cunningham, 46, of Sherman;
*    Henry Jolly, 26, of Mapleton; and
*    Katherine Saucier, 56; Joshua Disy, 26; Heather Pelletier, 25; and Kristy Hasting, 20 – all of Caribou.
Charged with trafficking in Methadone were:
*    Timothy Devoe, 46, and Dawn Vose Gonya, 40 – both of Houlton;
*    Carrie Unterreiner, 26, of Sherman;
*    Gloria Cahill, 42, of Patten; and
*    Kenneth Brackett, 59, of Staceyville (also charged with prohibited possession of a firearm by a felon).
During the investigation, agents also became aware of suspects selling other illicit drugs. That spur of the investigation resulted in the following arrests:
*    Gary Shaw, 30, of Houlton – trafficking in methamphetamine;
*    Calvin Thibodeau, 45, of Littleton – aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine;
*    Kyle Lyford, 20, of Presque Isle – trafficking in cocaine; and
*    Edward James Wilson, 41, of Limestone – trafficking in heroin.
“All of these suspects will be arraigned in Aroostook County Superior Court in the coming months and, if convicted, face maximum sentences of up to 10 years in prison,” said Crandall.
The lure of quick cash is one of the main reasons individuals get involved in such activity, said Crandall.
“Unfortunately, some people are drawn to the prospect of easy money and don’t consider the ramifications of their actions,” Crandall said.
For information on drug abuse and community resources that are available, visit www.asapcoalition.com. To report drug-related crimes, contact local or state police.