Jonathan Charron, 33, Courtney Brown, 22, Mathew Giguere, 35, all of Oakland, and Steven Recore, 27, of Waterville, have been arrested and charged with trafficking in fentanyl.
Seized as part of this investigation was nearly 1.5 pounds of fentanyl powder, which has a street value of more than $120,000. MDEA agents of the Augusta-based South Central Task Force, have for the past several months been investigating a group believed to be responsible for the distribution of fentanyl in the greater Skowhegan area of Somerset County.
During the investigation, agents learned Charron was making trips out of state to purchase illegal narcotics for resale in Maine. Early yesterday morning, March 18, agents learned that Charron’s vehicle had made a quick trip out of state, returning a couple of hours later. At approximately 6:30 am, agents observed Charron’s vehicle traveling north on I-95. Believing the vehicle had returned to the state with illegal drugs, agents with the assistance of the Maine State Police, stopped his vehicle after it exited I-95 in Sidney.
In a search of the vehicle conducted after the stop, agents seized 605 grams (1.35 pounds) of suspected fentanyl powder, 2 handguns and $8700 in cash. Present in the vehicle at the time of the stop was Charron and Steven Recore.
Agents later executed a search warrant on Charron’s Oakland home. During a search their, agents discovered and seized an additional 33 grams of fentanyl, $9391 in
suspected drug proceeds, and 2 rifles.
Charron, Brown, Giguere and Recore were all arrested and transported to the Kennebec County Jail. Charron and Recore were both charged with Aggravated Trafficking in Schedule W drugs (fentanyl). The charge was aggravated to a “Class A” offense because of the presence of the firearms in the vehicle and the type/quantity of the drugs located during the search.
Brown and Giguere were charged with Class B Trafficking in Schedule W drugs (Fentanyl). Giguere was also wanted on a fugitive from justice warrant out of New Hampshire.
