3 New York Residents Among Those Arrested In Maine Drug Bust

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency has arrested five people, including three New York residents, for their roles in distributing crack cocaine and fentanyl throughout Somerset County, according to a news release from the Maine Department of Public Safety.

Three Rochester, New York residents, Markwan Granville, 19, Jamie Martinez Betances, 29, and a juvenile male, 17, were each charged with aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs. Bail was set at $50,000 for all three suspects.

Rhonda Goldsmith, 43, of Vassalboro, was arrested on a charge of aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs. Bail was set at $25,000.

Jeffrey Charette, 47, of Winslow, was charged with unlawful furnishing of schedule W drugs. His bail was set at $2,500.

For the past two months, agents from the MDEA South Central District Task Force, along with investigators from the Somerset and Kennebec County sheriff’s offices, the Fairfield and Gardiner police departments and state police, conducted an investigation into the distribution of drugs in the area.

The investigation revealed that the group from New York were traveling to Maine regularly with large amounts of drugs that were sold to local users, the release said.

Police say the group was storing the drugs at a home on Center Road in Fairfield.

During a search of the home, agents seized approximately 516 grams of crack cocaine, 59 grams of fentanyl and a loaded handgun.

All five suspects were arrested and transported to the Somerset County Jail.

Police say the aggravating factor in their charges was the presence of a firearm and weight of the drugs.

The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected.