DEA arrests Detroit couple
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
Jason Gill and Keisha Thomas
PRESQUE ISLE — A Detroit couple remain behind bars at the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton, following their arrest in Presque Isle Saturday night for aggravated trafficking in oxycodone.
“Late Saturday night, agents of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA), assisted by members of the Presque Isle Police Department, executed a search warrant at a motel room in Presque Isle and arrested two suspects from Detroit, Mich.,” said MDEA Division Commander Darrell Crandall.
Crandall identified the individuals as Jason Gill, 26, and Keisha Thomas, 19, both of Detroit.
“They were each charged with aggravated trafficking in oxycodone, a Class A offense,” he said.
Crandall said agents had been working the case for several weeks prior to the arrests.
“The investigation began a few weeks ago when MDEA agents were told that Gill had come to northern Maine on multiple occasions to supply the area with oxycodone tablets. Agents also learned that Gill would be arriving in Presque Isle, on the bus, on Saturday night and would have between 400 and 600 oxycodone tablets,” said Crandall.
Using surveillance at the bus stop, agents watched Gill and a female accomplice get off the bus and check into a local hotel. Officials, posing as customers, met with the couple and were able to purchase several tablets.
“Agents were able to purchase 45 30-milligram tablets from Gill and subsequently executed a search warrant on his room, seizing 465 additional tablets,” said Crandall.
According to Crandall, Gill was assisted in transporting the drugs to Maine by his female accomplice.
“Gill’s female companion, identified as Keisha Thomas, is accused of transporting the drugs in a body cavity from a bus stop in Ohio to Maine, for which she was to be paid $500,” he said.
The subjects were initially transported to the Presque Isle Police Department for processing, then taken to the Aroostook County Jail, to await video arraignment at Houlton District Court on Monday.
“Gill’s bail is set at $50,000 cash, while Thomas’s bail is set at $25,000 cash. If convicted, the pair faces no less than four years in prison on the Class A offense,” said Crandall.
The Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The couple are scheduled to appear in Caribou Superior Court at 9 a.m. on July 21.
Crandall said getting drugs off the streets is an ongoing battle for law enforcement officers.
“Detecting and disrupting this type of criminal activity continues to be a major burden on Maine law enforcement. Out-of-state drug traffickers are drawn to the high profit margin that retail trafficking in prescription pain killers offers in Maine,” said Crandall. “One 30 milligram oxycodone tablet sells for as much as $50 in northern Maine.”
Crandall said prescription pain pills are making their way into Maine from various areas outside the state, not just one point of origin.
“While the majority of the oxycodone coming into Maine illicitly originates in Florida, it is also not uncommon to encounter traffickers from the other New England states and New York,” said Crandall.
The retail value of the 510, 30- milligram oxycodone tablets seized in this case is $25,500.
Anyone with information on drug crimes is asked to call MDEA at 800-452-6457 or post information confidentially at www.maine.gov/dps/mdea.
Assisting with the investigation from the PIPD were Det. William Scull and Officer Kevin Schumacher.
