Eight New York and Maine residents were arrested Friday on drug charges in a case involving heroin and cocaine distribution from a house in Vassalboro.
The Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency’s South Central Task Force announced the arrests.
Police said out-of-state drug traffickers set up shop at 38 Whitehouse Road, where undercover agents and deputies bought heroin and crack from people inside the house.
A search of the house uncovered 28 grams of heroin, 65 grams of crack cocaine, 25 grams of powdered cocaine, 15 grams of amphetamine and 12 grams of psilocybin mushrooms. Three handguns, $2,000 in cash and other drug-trafficking evidence were also seized. The house was the scene of a shooting Jan. 17, 2012 when Rafael Encarnacion, 22, of New York City was shot in the abdomen.
Those arrested Friday include Richard Baker, 34, of New York City, charged with two counts of Class A aggravated trafficking in heroin and crack and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, with bail set at $60,000, and Joseph Gagnon, 59, of Vassalboro, charged with two counts of aggravated trafficking in heroin and crack and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, with bail set at $30,000.
Also arrested on one count of aggravated trafficking in heroin and crack were Tayshaun Gibson, 25, of Albany, New York, with bail set at $50,000; Alijah Jenkins, 22, of Troy, New York, with bail set at $40,000; Rosemily Rivera, 24, of Troy, New York, with bail set at $40,000; and Jocelyn Jones, 28, of China who was also charged with possession of illegal drugs.
Austin Bond, 25, of Jefferson, was charged with one count of possession of oxycodone, with bail set at $5,000, and Kendra Vigue, 34, of Gardiner was arrested on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on drug trafficking charges.
All eight are being held at the Kennebec County lail.
Vassalboro and Maine State Police helped in the investigation.
Police said more arrests are possible.
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