The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency has broken up an out-of-state drug trafficking operation in Washington County

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency has broken up an out-of-state drug trafficking operation in Washington County.
Also, due to an increase in drug-related violence in the area MDEA has augmented resources in Washington County.

For the past several months, agents assigned to MDEA’s Downeast Task Force have been investigating the sale of Fentanyl and Cocaine from a Milbridge, Maine residence. During this investigation, agents identified the source of supply of the drugs as a Massachusetts man who investigators suspected was importing drugs from out of state on as many as two occasions a week, for the past several months.

On the morning of Monday, March 7, 2022, MDEA agents, with the assistance of the Maine State Police, stopped a vehicle operated by Rasheib Edward YANCY (45) of Billerica, MA on I-95 in Newport, Maine. YANCY is the suspected source of supply of the drugs going to the Milbridge residence. Following the execution of a search warrant on YANCY’s car, agents located approximately 103 grams of Fentanyl and 143 grams of Cocaine. The combined Washington County street value of the drugs seized is approximately $40,000.

Following this seizure, YANCY was arrested and transported to the Penobscot County Jail where he has been charged with Class A Aggravated Trafficking in Schedule W Drugs (fentanyl and cocaine). This charge was aggravated due to the quantity of drugs YANCY was importing into the state. His bail was set by a bail commissioner at $100,000 in cash. It is anticipated that YANCY will face the additional charge of Illegal Importation of Schedule W Drugs, a Class B felony, at the time of his initial appearance.

Following YANCY’s arrest, MDEA agents executed a search warrant on the Milbridge, Maine residence of Cole KENNEDY (36). During the investigation it was determined that this was the residence from which the drugs, brought to Maine by YANCY, were being distributed. KENNEDY is currently out on bail stemming from a 2021 MDEA investigation where he was charged with felony drug trafficking offenses. Following the search of his Milbridge home, approximately $3200 in suspected drug proceeds was seized by agents. KENNEDY was transported to the Washington County Jail where he has been charged with Class E Violation of Conditions of Release stemming from the fact that he was out on bail for the pending 2021 drug trafficking offense.

MDEA was assisted in this investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Maine State Police, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Billerica, Massachusetts Police Department. This investigation is continuing, and more arrests are possible.

Washington County has seen a marked increase in violence, which is inseparably linked to the sale of illicit drugs. MDEA is committed to working with all law enforcement partners and the community to help mitigate this activity. MDEA has augmented operational capabilities to Washington County from within the Downeast Task Force.

If you have information about this investigation or the illegal sale of drugs in your community, you are urged to contact the Maine Drug Enforcement office closest to you or by texting MDEA to TIP411 (847411) or by calling the MDEA tip-line at 1-800-452-6457.