Eight people have been indicted on a multiple charges following a months-long investigation into a guns-for-drugs scheme in Maine, authorities announced Wednesday.
According to Maine State Police, the investigation started in November when three people, two men and a woman, were arrested for burglaries committed in several southern Maine counties; authorities say they recovered 20 firearms recovered during that arrest, but believed other guns were taken to Massachusetts to be sold for drugs, including heroin.
Search warrants eventually lead to the recovery of more stolen guns in Buxton and Limerick, police say.
Authorities say they believe the stolen guns were brought to a Buxton home, where they were then sold for money and drugs. When police made arrests in November, the guns were then taken to a home in Limington to be hidden, state police say.
State police say the indicted are as follows:
- 54-year-old Dale Pinkham of Buxton on 12 counts receiving a stolen firearm, one count conspiracy to receive a stolen firearm
- 50-year-old Louise Cook of Buxton on 12 counts receiving a stolen firearm, one count conspiracy to receive a stolen firearm, one county of felon in possession of a firearm; has also been summonsed for possession of heroin
- 43-year-old David Rush of Limington on 12 counts of receiving a stolen firearm, one count conspiracy to receive a stolen firearm
- 21-year-old Raymond Pinkham of Buxton on one count conspiracy to receive a stolen firearm
- 19-year-old Robert Pinkham of Buxton on one count conspiracy to receive a stolen firearm
- 23-year-old Christopher Michaud of Limerick on five counts burglary, one count attempted burglary, 17 counts of theft of a firearm, four counts of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer
- 21-year-old Cole Meserve of Limerick on five counts burglary, 17 counts theft of a firearm, four count of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer
- 22-year-old Amber Meserve of Limerick on five counts of burglary, 17 counts of theft of a firearm, four counts by unauthorized taking or transfer
Authorities say Michaud, Cold Meserve and Amber Meserve are currently being held at the York County Jail on charges, while Dale Pinkham is serving a prison sentence from an unrelated investigation. Robert Pinkham, Rush and Cook will be arraigned at a later time.
