DEA charges two Aroostook County men
with drug trafficking
PRESQUE ISLE — Three men, including two Presque Isle residents, have been charged with transporting prescription pain killers between Maine and Florida.
“In what has become all too familiar to Maine drug agents over the past year, another criminal investigation has resulted in the arrests of two Aroostook County men and their alleged Florida-based drug supplier,” said Darrell O. Crandall, commander, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, District II.
Robert Merriam, 50, and Jason Parsons, 23, both of Presque Isle, and 23-year-old Joseph Bolda, of South Daytona, Fla., were charged with aggravated trafficking in Oxycodone, a Class A offense in Maine.
DEA agents began looking into possible transporting of prescription medications earlier this year.
“Several months ago, DEA agents based in Aroostook County began investigating reports of Merriam receiving large quantities of prescription pain killers from Florida and selling them. With the assistance of U.S. postal inspectors, records were found that showed packages coming from Florida to Presque Isle,” Crandall said.
Crandall said the investigation continued, and on Oct. 6, a suspect package was intercepted en route to Presque Isle.
“The package was found to contain 750 tablets of Oxycodone, with a retail street value of $30,000. At the same time, agents intercepted a package destined for Joseph Bolda 
which contained $4,600 in U.S. currency,” he said.
The investigation revealed that more than 20 similar deliveries of drugs and money occurred between April and October of this year.
“Merriam was arrested and taken to the Aroostook County Jail. Jason Parsons 
was arrested at his Washburn Road residence on Oct. 19,” said Crandall.
Law enforcement in Florida took part in the investigation, locating and arresting Bolda.
“MDEA agents obtained a felony arrest warrant for Bolda, and agents of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) took him into custody on Wednesday night. Bolda faces extradition to Maine,” he said.
Crandall said this scenario plays out around Maine on a regular basis.
“DEA investigations often result in identifying Maine residents selling potent, prescription pain killers they have obtained in Florida,” said Crandall.
Some get them through the mail or a parcel service, while Crandall said others travel to Florida and obtain the drugs directly from one of the countless pain clinics that have popped up in strip malls and other retail outlets.
“While Florida is not the only source state, it is quickly becoming a favorite of criminal drug traffickers in Maine. You only have to do an Internet search on ‘Florida pain clinics’ to see many stories on how that state has been struggling with the issue,” said Crandall, noting recently there have been attempts to better regulate the amount of drugs flowing from these outlets.
Anyone with information on this or similar criminal activity may call MDEA toll free at 800-452-6457 or they may leave information on the MDEA website: www.maine.gov/dps/mdea.
