Incident Date: 12/27/2020
Incident Time: 3:25am
Incident Location: Main Street Gray & Roosevelt Trail Naples
Release Date: 12/27/2020
Release Time: 6:45pm
CCSO deputies make 3 arrests & seize 500 Grams of Fentanyl, along with a gun during a traffic stop in Gray. A subsequent search warrant executed at a Naples motel room yields Carfentanil and more guns
On the above date, a CCSO Deputy stopped a vehicle on Main Street in Gray for a traffic violation. During the course of the traffic stop, the Deputy suspected illegal drug activity and continued to investigate. A search of the vehicle and its 3 occupants netted 500 GRAMS of a powdered substance, later determined to be the drug Fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine. Pharmaceutical fentanyl was developed for pain management treatment of cancer patients, applied in a patch on the skin. Because of its powerful opioid properties, Fentanyl is also diverted for abuse. Fentanyl is added to heroin to increase its potency, or be disguised as highly potent heroin. Many users believe that they are purchasing heroin and actually don’t know that they are purchasing fentanyl – which often results in overdose deaths -(https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl).
Used illegally, fentanyl produces an intense, short-term high, along with temporary feelings of euphoria.
Also seized from the vehicle and its 3 occupants was over $1200.00 cash, drug paraphernalia, a 9mm firearm, along with 2 toy replica guns. A photograph depicting some of the seized evidence is attached.
As a result of this stop, and with the assistance of Maine Drug Enforcement, a subsequent search warrant was executed at a local Naples motel room. Additional firearms, along with a variety of other illegal drugs was located in the room rented by the suspects. A presumptive chemical test performed at the motel identified the presence of Carfentanil.
Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid that is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl, which itself is 50 times more potent than heroin. DEA, local law enforcement and first responders have recently seen the presence of carfentanil, which has been linked to a significant number of overdose deaths in various parts of the country. Improper handling of carfentanil, as well as fentanyl and other fentanyl-related compounds, has deadly consequence (https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2016/09/22/dea-issues-carfentanil-warning-police-and-public.)
A fourth suspect was arrested at the motel room and was identified as:
Jasmine-Marie MOORE, 33 years old from Portland, ME. MOORE was transported to the Cumberland County Jail where she was charged with Possession of Schedule Drugs.
Arrested during the traffic stop was: Trisha TANSEY, 36 years old from Waterville, ME, Thomas CASWELL, 28 years old from Falmouth, ME, & Shawn LEBEL, 29 years old from Springvale, ME. All three were transported to the Cumberland County Jail.
TANSEY was charged with Aggravated Trafficking of Scheduled Drugs and Violation of Conditions of Release. TANSEY is currently on bail conditions from a prior OUI drug charge in York County.
CASWELL was charged with Aggravated Trafficking of Scheduled Drugs.
LEBEL was charged with Aggravated Trafficking of Schedule Drugs and Violation of Conditions of Release. LEBEL is currently on bail conditions from prior Drug charge in York County.
This case represents a significant fentanyl seizure. To provide an example of its magnitude, it is a felony in Maine to possess 200 Milligrams of fentanyl. In this case, the suspects had 500 Grams. This case also reflects the extent of the drug problem in the Sebago Lake area. Fentanyl, and drugs like them, are extremely dangerous and have accounted for a large percentage of overdoses and overdose deaths across Maine and the U.S. We do anticipate that the impact of this seizure will prevent several overdoses and overdose-related deaths in the coming days and weeks. Unfortunately, we also know that this relief is temporary and a new flow of drugs will soon follow.
The CCSO will continue to collaborate with public health officials, substance abuse programs, and our Federal, State, and Local law enforcement partners to protect our communities from drug-related crimes.
Released by:
Captain Don Foss
Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office
(207)774-1444