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| Lance Ellison | Kathryn Ellison |
WOODLAND — Agents from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency with the Aroostook County Task Force, assisted by the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department, executed a search warrant on the home of Lance and Kathryn Ellison in Woodland last week.
This warrant was the result of a several month investigation into the distribution of synthetic hallucinogens, so-called “bath salts,” in central Aroostook County.
During the search of the residence, agents and deputies located and seized: a shotgun; a loaded 9mm handgun; $6,760 in cash; 3.39 pounds of a-PVP, or “bath salts,” with a street value of $308,000; numerous laptop computers and cell phones, along with other evidence of drug trafficking.
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| Photo courtesy of MDEA During the search of the Woodland home of Lance and Kathryn Ellison, MDEA agents and deputies of the Sheriff’s Department located and seized: a shotgun; a loaded 9mm handgun; $6,760 in cash; 3.39 pounds of a-PVP, or “bath salts,” with a street value of $308,000; numerous laptop computers and cell phones, along with other evidence of drug trafficking. |
In addition to the a-PVP, agents also seized a quantity of the prescription drugs suboxone and fentanyl, according to MDEA Commander Peter Arno.
As a result of the investigation, 44-year-old Lance Ellison was charged with aggravated trafficking in a Schedule W drug (synthetic hallucinogens and possession of a firearm by a felon. At the time of his arrest, Ellison was also on probation for being in possession of a firearm by a felon.
Ellison’s criminal record includes a 1990 armed robbery conviction for which he received a 10-year sentence, a 2003 aggravated trafficking in heroin conviction for which he received an 8-year sentence, and a 2013 conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon. Ellison’s current drug charges were aggravated due to the seizure of a loaded firearm located near where the drugs were seized and because of his 2003 heroin conviction.
Ellison’s wife, 41-year-old Kathryn Ellison, was charged with aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs.
Director of MDEA Roy McKinney states this seizure highlights the disturbing fact that bulk quantities of these synthetic hallucinogens or “bath salts” continue to dominate the illicit drug market in all areas of this state, to include rural northern Maine.
