CORNVILLE — A 9 mm handgun and several types of illegal narcotics were seized and two people were arrested Monday morning in a raid on a home on Route 43, also known as Shadagee Road, in Cornville.
Andrew Swanson
Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster said a search warrant was carried out beginning at about 6:30 a.m. at the home of Andrew Swanson and Jamie Wheeler. Four minor children ages 17 and under were in the home at the time of the raid, Lancaster said.
Seized in the raid were more than 20 grams of heroin, possible amounts of fentanyl powder, numerous controlled pills, digital scales and $3,319 in cash. Also seized was the handgun with a loaded clip, drug related documentation and drug related paraphernalia, the sheriff said.
Lancaster said that once the controlled pills are identified and tested and an exact weight has been determined more charges are likely to be filed. The heroin had an estimated street value of more than $4,000.
Jamie Wheeler
Swanson, 39, was arrested and charged with aggravated trafficking in heroin, Class A, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. He is charged additionally with unlawful possession of heroin, Class C, punishable by up to five years in prison.
Wheeler, 37, was arrested and charged with aggravated trafficking in heroin, Class A, and unlawful possession of heroin, Class C.
Lancaster said the charges against Swanson and Wheeler are elevated because of the firearm and the amount of heroin seized.
Swanson and Wheeler are being held at the Somerset County Jail in East Madison on $20,000 cash bail. Their initial court appearances are set for Feb. 7 in the Somerset County Unified Court in Skowhegan. More charges may be filed once the case is reviewed by the Somerset County District Attorney’s Office.
A referral will be made to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services for the minor children who were in the home.
“This is part of an ongoing drug investigation by the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office for over a year regarding heroin, fentanyl and controlled pills being sold in and around Somerset County,” Lancaster said in a news release.
Several sheriff’s trucks were in the yard of a two-story, clapboard homeat 402 Shadagee Road, which is set back in the woods about a mile east of the Molunkus Road.
Sheriff’s deputies cleared the scene at about 9:30 a.m. Monday.
Doug Harlow — 612-2367
Twitter:@Doug_Harlow
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