A Wiscasset man pleaded guilty to two charges stemming from a long-term Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigation into heroin trafficking on Friday, March 27. Nathan Brewer, 27, pleaded guilty to aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs, a class A felony; and illegal importation of scheduled drugs, a class C felony.
Brewer was sentenced to 10 years in prison with all but five years suspended and four years of probation for aggravated trafficking and one year in prison for illegal importation of scheduled drugs. The sentences will run concurrently.
A third charge, unlawful furnishing of schedule W drugs, was dismissed.
According to Assistant Attorney General Jamie Guerrette, prosecutor for the case, Brewer and his alleged associate, Allina Diaz, were the focus of a long-term investigation by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency based on tips from informants.
Between March 2 and July 31, 2014, agents with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency obtained information that Brewer had received approximately 21 packages of heroin from a source in California. In addition, a number of text messages were obtained indicating Brewer was involved in the local distribution of heroin.
According to Brewer’s attorney, Justin Andrus, Brewer disagreed with the number of packages the state claims he received. However, the disagreement would not have any impact on the charge, Andrus said.
On July 31, 2014, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency officer Chad Carleton arrested Brewer after he received another package from California. Carleton found what was later determined to be 8.9 grams of heroin inside a sunglasses case in the package.
Brewer and Diaz were indicted in September 2014 on aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs and illegal importation of scheduled drugs, due to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency’s investigation. Diaz’s case is still pending.
Brewer was placed in handcuffs and taken into custody in the courtroom. He is serving his sentence at the Maine Correctional Center in Windham. According to the Maine Department of Corrections prisoner search, his earliest possible release date is Feb. 1, 2019.
