News

University Drug Arrests
From The Maine Department Of Public Safety
Steve McCausland

A four month investigation by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency has resulted in ten people being charged with drug trafficking offenses, and two with cocaine possession. Three additional suspects will be charged in the near future.

Of the 15 persons charged or under investigation, fourteen are students at the University of Maine at Orono, according to MDEA Commander Darrell Crandall. All of the arrests took place in April, the most recent one last Friday.

The investigation began on January 2, 2005 when MDEA Agents and officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrested a New Jersey man in Houlton. He was charged with possession of cocaine, and subsequently told agents he purchased the cocaine from a UMO student. The investigation that followed led MDEA agents to a network of students at the University of Maine at Orono who were selling cocaine and prescription stimulants.

The prescription involved is Adderall which is generally prescribed for patients with attention deficit disorder (ADD). Crandall said, "The investigation revealed that the abuse of Adderall is common among UMO students, and that abusers and traffickers have researched the symptomology of ADD so they may obtain a prescription from a physician. We are hopeful that these arrests will serve as a wake up call. Adderall has a high rate of abuse as it has a stimulant effect on people that are not afflicted with ADD."

Crandall said undercover operatives were utilized to make drug purchases from suspects that had been identified as selling drugs on the UMO campus, as well as Old Town and Orono. "We were selective... if agents could not establish that someone was already selling, we did not approach them.The administration of the University was made aware of the law enforcement efforts and have been supportive", Crandall said.

The following have been charged:

Walter Fyler, 20, trafficking in Cocaine in Old Town
Matthew Neves, 20, trafficking in Adderall at UMO
Joseph Shaw, 20, trafficking in marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms at UMO
David Dow, 19, trafficking in Adderall in Old Town
Charles Drew, 20, trafficking in Adderall at UMO Dan Jaffe, 20, trafficking in Adderall in Old Town
Amanda Maloney, 20, trafficking Adderall at UMO
Maggie Jennings, 21, trafficking in cocaine in Orono
Vincent Liu, 21, trafficking in Ecstasy (MDMA) at UMO
Kate Stade, 19, trafficking in marijuana at UMO
Nicholas Nadeau, 22, possession of cocaine in Old Town
Jesse L'Hereux, 21, possession of cocaine in Old Town

All are UMO students except Stade. The three remaining suspects will be charged in the near future. Police officers from the University of Maine, Orono and Old Town Police Departments assisted MDEA Agents during this investigation.

The following warning appears on medical websites regarding Adderall:
Amphetamines have a high potential for abuse. Administration of amphetamines for prolonged periods of time may lead to drug dependence and must be avoided. Particular attention should be paid to the possibility of subjects obtaining amphetamines for non-therapeutic use or distribution to others, and the drugs should be prescribed or dispensed sparingly. (Rxlist.com)

MDEA is Maine's Statewide Drug Task Force, charged with enforcing the criminal laws of the State of Maine. MDEA operates two field divisions, with five regional task forces, based in Houlton, Bangor, Augusta, Lewiston and Portland.

Agents of MDEA are assigned to the task forces by municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies to investigate drug related crimes. MDEA's philosophy is one of communication, coordination and participation. Questions regarding the structure, mandates or operations of MDEA may be addressed with Director McKinney at 626-3850.