News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2003

FIRST MAINE MET DEPLOYMENT RESULTS IN 26 ARRESTS

New England Field Division SAC Mark R. Trouville and Lewiston Maine Police Chief Bill Welch announcing the successful culmination of the first MET deployment in Maine Which resulted in 26 arrests.

JUN 9--Lewiston, ME….Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; Bill Welch, Chief of the Lewiston Maine Police Department; Richard Small, Chief of the Auburn Maine Police Department; Roy McKinney, Director of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; and Paula Silsby, United States Attorney announced today the arrest of 26 individuals for cocaine and crack cocaine violations.

These twenty-six defendants are facing a variety of charges including the distribution of cocaine and the distribution of crack cocaine. Approximately ¾ kilogram of crack cocaine was seized during this investigation as well as approximately ¾ kilogram of powder cocaine. A facet of this investigation resulted in the identification and arrest of four defendants whose organization distributed significant amounts of powder cocaine in Lewiston. Arrested were:

William BRYANT, 33 of Lewiston;
Michael GILBERT, 30 of So Paris ;
Carlos Alfredo HUERTAS , 30 of Miami, FL; and
Michael RODRIGUEZ, 59 of Miami, FL

BRYANT and GILBERT were charged last month with conspiracy both to distribute 500 grams or more of powder cocaine and to possess that amount of drug with intent to distribute.

HUERTAS and RODRIGUEZ were also charged last month with conspiracy both to distribute an unspecified amount of powder cocaine and to possess powder cocaine with intent to distribute. Both are currently detained in Florida awaiting removal to Maine.

Undercover DEA agents traveled from Lewiston to Miami where they met with the sources of supply and negotiated for multi-kilograms of cocaine.

"The individuals who believe trafficking in drugs is a viable occupation in Maine have just been given notice, " said DEA Special Agent in Charge Trouville. "Trafficking these poisons into our neighborhoods is an unconscionable act and one that will not be tolerated. Today here in Lewiston, the power of cooperative law enforcement has been demonstrated. Through the hard work of all these agencies there are now fewer purveyors of destruction on the streets of Maine."

The DEA Mobile Enforcement Team had been deployed in the Lewiston Maine area since February 2003 at the invitation of Chief Welch and Chief Small. This is the first MET deployment in Maine and more arrests are anticipated.

"Thanks to the efforts of this special team, there are fewer drug traffickers on the streets of central Maine this afternoon," Silsby said. "These arrests demonstrate a continuing federal commitment to work cooperatively with state and local enforcement to help make Lewiston/Auburn and all Maine communities free from illegal drugs."