Two men, including one arrested when Maine Drug Enforcement Agency officers raided a Sidney home last week, face federal drug charges as a result of incidents in central Maine.
Demetrius “Rich” Snow, 22, of Rochester, New York, had been held at the Kennebec County jail in lieu of $8,000 bail on charges of unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs until Monday, when the state prosecutor dismissed those charges, saying Snow faces a federal charge related to the same event.
Snow was arrested Oct. 20 at 179 Shepherd Drive in Sidney. An affidavit filed in the federal case by Bryan Klutzaritz, special agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, says Snow had two bags of crack cocaine in his pants pocket, totaling 27 grams.
Snow is charged with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base, an offense that carries a maximum prison term of 20 years.
“During a subsequent Mirandized videotaped interview, Snow admitted, among other things, that he possessed the cocaine base the officers found on him and that he was involved in selling cocaine base for money in Kennebec County,” Klutzaritz wrote.
Snow, who is represented by attorney Kaylee Folster, agreed to be held without bail on Tuesday when he made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Bangor before Magistrate Judge John C. Nivison.
In a separate case, Brandon Lancaster, 21, of Norridgewock, was charged with distribution of oxycodone that allegedly occurred Aug. 31. The offense carries a maximum prison term of 20 years.
In that case, Kristopher Sullivan, a special agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, filed an affidavit in court saying that he witnessed a confidential informant purchasing 11 30-milligram oxycodone tablets from Lancaster “at a parking lot in central Maine.” Sullivan said the transaction, which was funded with $500 in government money, occurred Aug. 31.
Sullivan said he followed Lancaster again Oct. 18 until Lancaster was stopped in Sidney. Documents show federal authorities arrested Lancaster on Monday.
Lancaster, who is being represented by attorney Kevin Sullivan, is being held temporarily and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Nov. 2 in Bangor in front of Nivison.
A mug shot of Lancaster was unavailable Thursday because he is in the federal penal system, which does not release mug shots.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams