An operation by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, assisted by the Waldoboro Police Department, Waldoboro EMS, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and Maine State Police, resulted in the arrests of two individuals on drug trafficking charges on the afternoon of Thursday, April 25.
Hollis Owens, 50, of Mattapan, Mass., and Shawn Brewer, 42, of Waldoboro, were arrested after agents executed a search warrant at Brewer’s Finntown Road residence at approximately 2 p.m. on April 25, according to a press release from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Agents recovered 13.9 grams of fentanyl, 11.5 grams of methamphetamine, and two grams of cocaine base from the residence, as well as a loaded handgun and $7,236 in “suspected drug proceeds” during execution of the search warrant, according to the release.
Owens was arrested on three Class A counts of aggravated trafficking schedule W drugs and one Class C count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. At a court appearance on Friday, April 26, he was also charged with another Class A count of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs.
Owens was convicted of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance in Massachusetts in 2018, for which he was sentenced to four years of incarceration and three years of probation, according to court documents. As a result, he is not able to legally possess a firearm.
Brewer was arrested on one count of aggravated trafficking of schedule W drugs, a Class B charge, and for a Class E count of violation of condition of release.
At a court appearance on Friday, April 26, he was also charged with a Class A charge of unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs.
According to the press release, the investigation into suspected drug trafficking activity at the Finntown Road residence began in March, when agents from the Mid-Coast District Task Force began to investigate Owens’ activity in the area.
According to the press release and court documents, agents conducted undercover purchases of illegal narcotics from Owens, who is also known by the aliases “Popcorn” and “Chris Jones,” in early April. Agents later determined the Finntown Road residence where the transaction had taken place, and where Owens appeared to be staying, was either owned by or “under the control” of Brewer, according to court documents.
On Thursday, April 25, a confidential informant entered the Finntown Road residence to purchase drugs, buying $150 in methamphetamine from Owens. Brewer was present while the transaction took place, according to court documents.
Shortly after, MDEA agents entered the residence and arrested Owens and Brewer. The agents also discovered a loaded handgun and the $7,236 in cash inside backpacks inside the residence. The cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine were recovered from the sewer pipes beneath the residence, apparently having been flushed down the toilet, according to the release.
In an interview after he was taken into custody, Owens denied allegations of drug trafficking and also said that he had not known about the firearm in the residence, court documents said.
Brewer later told investigators that the residence was his but the firearm was not, according to court documents. Brewer also said Owens supplied him with crack cocaine on a weekly basis in return for using the residence to deal drugs.
As of the morning of Wednesday, May 1, Brewer and Owens remain in custody at Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset. Both are expected to appear in court for a dispositional conference via Zoom on Monday, June 24, according to court documents.
