Kennebec County Drug Bust Nets $120K in Fentanyl

An investigation into the trafficking of fentanyl in Somerset County netted four arrests and $120,000 worth of the drug.

The South Central Task Force of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency has been investigating a group believed to be responsible for the distribution of fentanyl in the greater Skowhegan area. During the investigation, agents received a tip that suspect Jonathan Charron of Oakland was making a trip out of state to purchase illegal narcotics that he intended to sell in Maine.

Early Thursday morning, agents stopped Charron's vehicle in Sidney as it exited I-95. A search of the vehicle netted 605 grams (1.35 pounds) of suspected fentanyl powder and $8,700 in cash, as well as two handguns. Also in the vehicle was Steve Recore of Waterville. Later in the day, agents executed a search warrant at Charron's Oakland, Maine home, where they seized an additional 33 grams of fentanyl, $9,391 in suspected drug proceeds. Officials say the street value of the drugs is approximately $120,000.

Arrested as part of this investigation were:

• Jonathan Charron, 33, of Oakland, charged with aggravated trafficking in fentanyl. Bail was set at $100,000 cash.
• Courtney Brown, 22, of Oakland, charged with trafficking in fentanyl. Released on $25,000 unsecured bail.
• Mathew Giguere, 35, of Oakland, charged with trafficking in fentanyl. Bail was not allowed due to a fugitive from justice warrant out of New Hampshire.
• Steven Recore, 27, of Waterville, charged with aggravated trafficking in fentanyl. Bail was set at $100,000 cash.

All four suspects were transported to the Kennebec County Jail. Charges against Charron and Recore were elevated to aggravated because of the presence of firearms in the vehicle and the amount of the drugs located during the search.

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency was assisted in this investigation by the Maine State Police, Oakland Police Department, Somerset County Sheriff's Office, and Homeland Security Investigations.

Officials say the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are possible.